U.S. patent application number 11/047289 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-02 for high speed parallel printing using meters and intelligent sorting of printed materials.
Invention is credited to James M. Mattern.
Application Number | 20060024112 11/047289 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35732371 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060024112 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mattern; James M. |
February 2, 2006 |
High speed parallel printing using meters and intelligent sorting
of printed materials
Abstract
A printing system includes an inserter, a buffer, a splitter,
and a plurality of media paths each feeding a meter. Another
printing system may include an inserter, a buffer, a splitter, a
plurality of media paths each feeding a meter, and a system for
intelligently recombining the printed materials.
Inventors: |
Mattern; James M.; (Bethany,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PERMAN & GREEN
425 POST ROAD
FAIRFIELD
CT
06824
US
|
Family ID: |
35732371 |
Appl. No.: |
11/047289 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60591392 |
Jul 27, 2004 |
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60591394 |
Jul 27, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
400/578 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 13/12 20130101;
B41J 13/0009 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
400/578 |
International
Class: |
B65H 5/00 20060101
B65H005/00 |
Claims
1. A system for printing comprising: an inserter; a buffer; a
splitter; a plurality of media paths; and a plurality of meters fed
by the media paths, wherein the inserter, buffer, splitter, meters,
and media paths are controlled to maximize throughput.
2. A printing system comprising: an inserter; a buffer; a splitter;
a plurality of media paths; a plurality of meters fed by the media
paths; and a sorter located proximate the ends of the media paths
for intelligently recombining, separating, or sorting printed
material, wherein the inserter, buffer, splitter, meters, media
paths and sorter are controlled to maximize throughput.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/591,392 filed Jul. 27, 2004, and U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/591,394 filed Jul. 27, 2004, which
are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for
printing using a plurality of paper paths, each feeding a
meter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RELATED DEVELOPMENTS
[0003] Mailing machines enable users to frank one or more mail
items by printing a stamp representing the amount paid by the
sender. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,243,908; 5,683,190;
5,526,271; 6,607,095; 6,050,054; 5,293,465; 5,688,729; all of which
are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety; disclose
franking machines which may comprise franking heads, feeders,
folders and user interfaces as examples.
[0004] Barcoded indicia generally occupies about 1 square inch, may
require 2 pens and 1 printhead to print, and may require a
resolution of approximately 300 dots per inch (DPI). Alignment
among multiple devices such as pens and printheads can be difficult
to achieve and maintain.
[0005] Furthermore, the printing devices themselves print at a rate
much slower than typical media transport speeds. For example, a
typical printhead may be capable of printing 300 DPI on media
travelling at a maximum of 55 inches/second. Using envelopes as an
example, this translates to approximately 15 thousand
envelopes/hour. Typical media transport devices are capable of
moving media at much faster speeds.
[0006] It would be advantageous to create a system that is capable
of printing at speeds faster than presently available. Once
material has been printed it would also be advantageous to be able
to intelligently sort the printed material.
SUMMARY OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0007] In one embodiment, a printing system includes an inserter, a
buffer, a splitter, and a plurality of media paths each feeding a
meter.
[0008] In another embodiment, a printing system includes an
inserter, a buffer, a splitter, a plurality of media paths each
feeding a meter, and a system for intelligently recombining the
printed materials.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The foregoing aspects and other features of the present
invention are explained in the following description, taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment for
practicing the features disclosed herein; and
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of another exemplary
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown, a schematic block
diagram of a printing or mailing system 100 suitable for practicing
the embodiments disclosed herein and incorporating features in
accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Although the present invention will be described with reference to
the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be
understood that the present invention can be embodied in many
alternate forms of embodiments. In addition, any suitable size,
shape or type of elements or materials could be used.
[0013] In the exemplary embodiment shown, system 100 may include an
inserter 105 for operating on printing media 115. The printing
media 115 may for example include mail items. In general, printing
system 100 prints upon pieces of printing media 115.
[0014] System 100 includes a buffer 110, a splitter 120, and a
plurality of media paths 125, 130 feeding a plurality of meters
135, 140. The inserter 105, buffer 110, splitter 120, media paths
125, 130, and meters 135, 140 may be controlled by a processor 145
to maximize throughput.
[0015] Processor 145 allocates printing information to each meter
135, 140, and pieces of printing media 115, for example envelopes,
are allocated to each meter 135, 140 based on various rules for
optimum throughput. The rules may include consideration of media
presently in each media path 125, 130, information to be printed,
information and media already allocated to each meter, etc. Other
rules and considerations may also be used.
[0016] Different information may be printed by any of the meters at
any given time and each printing media piece 115 may be imprinted
with information exclusive to that media piece 115 or may include
information common to at least one other media piece 115.
[0017] The buffer 110 operates to compensate for differences
between the speed of the inserter 105, the splitter 120, the media
paths 125, 130, and the meters 135, 140.
[0018] The splitter 120 allocates media pieces 115 to each media
path 125, 130 according to the rules described above. The splitter
120 may also manage a space or gap between pieces of media 115 in
each media path 125, 130.
[0019] The processor 145, inserter 105, buffer 110, splitter 120,
media paths 125, 130, meters 135, 140 and other components may
communicate over a communication path or network 150 and may
exchange messages and commands.
[0020] Printed media exiting from the meters is generally
transported to receptacles 155, 160 at the end of each media path
125, 130, respectively.
[0021] FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of another embodiment,
referred to as system 200, for practicing the features described
herein.
[0022] System 200 includes an inserter 205, a buffer 210, a
splitter 215, and a plurality of media paths 220, 225 feeding a
plurality of meters 230, 235. The inserter 205, buffer 210,
splitter 215, meters 230, 235, and media paths 220, 225 are
controlled by a processor 240 to maximize throughput. The inserter
introduces printed material 250 into buffer 210. A sorter 245, also
controlled by processor 240 is located proximate the ends of the
media paths 220, 225 for intelligently recombining, separating, or
sorting the printed material 250.
[0023] The processor 240 allocates printing information to each
meter 230, 235, and the printed material 250, also referred to as
pieces of media, for example envelopes, are allocated to each meter
230, 235 by the processor 240 using various rules operated for
optimum throughput. The rules may include consideration of media
presently in each media path, information to be printed,
information and media already allocated to each meter, etc. Other
rules and considerations may also be used.
[0024] As with the embodiment described above, different
information may be printed by any of the meters 230, 235 at any
given time. Each media piece 250 may be imprinted with information
exclusive to that media piece or may include information common to
at least one other media piece.
[0025] The buffer 210 operates to compensate for differences
between the speed of the inserter 205, the splitter 215, media
paths 220, 225, meters 230, 235 and sorter 245.
[0026] The splitter 215 allocates media 250 to each media path 220,
225 according to the rules described above. The splitter 215 may
also manage a space or gap between pieces of media 250 in each
media path 220, 225.
[0027] The sorter 245 may communicate with the other components of
the system and operates to sort printed materials according to a
set of rules that may depend on various parameters associated with
the printed material, user input, one or more predetermined
criteria, calculated parameters, or any other suitable criteria,
parameters, or conditions.
[0028] The sorter 245 may combine printed material 250 from one or
more of the media paths 220, 225, may operate to separate the
printed material 250, may generally sort the printed material 250,
or may perform any other operation related to organizing the
material 250 delivered by the media paths 220, 225.
[0029] The processor 240, inserter 205, buffer 210, splitter 215,
media paths 220, 225, meters 230, 235, sorter 245, and other
components may communicate over a communication path or network 250
and may exchange messages and commands.
[0030] It should be understood that the foregoing description is
only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and
modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without
departing from the invention. One such example is where other
configurations of printheads may also be used. Accordingly, the
present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives,
modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the
appended claims.
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