Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Utility Patent
1997-04-14
2001-01-02
Ellis, Christopher R. (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S223000, C700S226000
Utility Patent
active
06169936
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In known installations for sorting letters, an input apparatus supplies the letters to a mechanical storage segment, in which the letters are moved at a predeterminable speed, with a scanner performing an optical scan in the beginning region of the storage segment. While the letter is in the storage segment, the result of the scan is processed further, particularly supplied to a reading apparatus that evaluates the address information provided on the surface of the letter. Before the letters leave the storage segment, the result of the reading apparatus should be available for further distributing the letters or providing them with sorting information corresponding to the reading result. A problem associated with mechanically sorting letters for which information provided on the surface is to be evaluated lies in setting the number of letters supplied per second to the storage segment such that the reading result is actually available before the letters have left the storage segment. In terms of regulating technology, the problem lies in regulating the reading location in the storage segment, that is, the location at which a letter is located in the storage segment when the reading apparatus outputs its result, such that this location remains between predetermined values x
0
and x
max
.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to disclose a method and an apparatus suited for executing the method, with which the reading location x of the letters in the storage segment remains between the predetermined x
0
and x
max
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is characterized by the fact that an auxiliary regulating circuit is used such that the number y of unicoded letters in the storage segment is determined and fed back by way of a regulator for generating the control value u of the input station. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reading output z of the reading apparatus is switched to the guide value of the auxiliary regulating circuit by way of a characteristic-curve element.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an automatic address reader and/or an apparatus for video coding is or are used as a reading apparatus.
In a further preferred embodiment, a flicker regulator in which the number y of uncoded letters is fed back for generating the control value of the input station is used as a regulator.
In a further preferred embodiment, the characteristic-curve element has a nonlinear characteristic curve.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4838435 (1989-06-01), Alexandre et al.
patent: 4991719 (1991-02-01), Butcher et al.
patent: 5018073 (1991-05-01), Goldberg
patent: 5022644 (1991-06-01), Biirge
patent: 5480032 (1996-01-01), Pippin et al.
patent: 5655667 (1997-08-01), Isaacs
patent: 0167091 (1986-01-01), None
patent: 0227998 (1987-07-01), None
patent: 2217080 (1974-09-01), None
patent: 1410436 (1975-10-01), None
Ellis Christopher R.
Kunitz Norman N.
Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH
Tran Khoi H.
Venable
LandOfFree
Method of controlling the input station in a letter-sorting... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of controlling the input station in a letter-sorting..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of controlling the input station in a letter-sorting... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2461916