Robert J Francisco

US Patent:

6418357, Jul 9, 2002

Filed:

Aug 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/648577

Inventors:

Jeffrey L. Chodack - New Milford CT
Robert Francisco - New Fairfield CT
Edilberto I. Salazar - Brookfield CT
John W. Sussmeier - Cold Spring NY

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06F 700

US Classification:

700220, 700213, 270 5806, 270 5802, 4147903

Abstract:

A method for dynamically determining a motion control profile used in controlling motion of an axis of an overhead transport motor so as to be synchronized to the motion of a collating transport motor of an insertion engine used to insert a collation into an envelope when the collating transport motor causes a collating pusher to handoff the collation to an overhead pusher being driven by the overhead transport motor. The motion profile consists of a finite number of segments and repeats after the finite number of segments, the finite number of segments constituting a cycle. The method includes the steps of: electronically gearing the overhead transport motor to the collating transport motor from the beginning of a cycle until handoff; based on position information provided by a sensor, determining whether the collating transport is decelerating between handoff and insertion; and using either forward integration or electronic gearing of the overhead transport motor to the collating transport motor up until the collating transport motor is first determined to be decelerating between handoff and insertion, and using forward integration when the collating transport motor is first determined to be decelerating between handoff and insertion and continuing the forward integration until insertion. In some applications, the forward integration is used when the collating transport motor is first determined to be decelerating between handoff and insertion and continuing the forward integration until the end of the cycle.

US Patent:

50034855, Mar 26, 1991

Filed:

Dec 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/292613

Inventors:

Robert Francisco - New Fairfield CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06F 1500
G05B 1500

US Classification:

364478

Abstract:

A material processing system comprising a plurality of material processing stations, a base material processing station, and means directing material to be processed serially through the plurality of stations in a given order to the base station; the improvement wherein each of the plurality of stations and the base station comprises a separate data and control processor, and further comprising a communication loop interconnecting the processors of the plurality of stations in the given order to the processor of the base station and interconnecting the processor of the base station to the processor of the first of the plurality of stations; the processors of the plurality of stations comprising means responsive to a determined signal from the processor of the base station to the processor of the next succeeding station of the identification data that the respective station has assigned to itself, whereby the processor of the base station receives data from the last of the plurality of stations corresponding to the number of the plurality of stations connected to the communication loop.

US Patent:

49706543, Nov 13, 1990

Filed:

Dec 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/292156

Inventors:

Robert Francisco - New Fairfield CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06F 1520

US Classification:

364478

Abstract:

A material processing apparatus for collating and feeding documents, comprising a plurality of document feeding modules, each of the modules including a source of documents, a queuing station, means for feeding documents from the source to the queuing station control means, and sensing means for sensing the position of a document within the module, a data link interconnecting adjacent modules, means for appling a collation signal to the control means for defining a collation operation in the module, the control means responsive to a arrival of documents at the queuing station in accordance with the collation signal for providing a ready signal, first and second modules positioned adjacent one another, the second being in a downstream location from the first module, the second module control means providing to the first module control means its the ready signal indicating the second module is ready to receive the document collation, the first module control means responsive to its ready signal and to the second module control means ready signal for releasing the first module queuing station, thereby allowing the first module to provide its ablation to the second module.

US Patent:

51858665, Feb 9, 1993

Filed:

Dec 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/292058

Inventors:

Robert Francisco - New Fairfield CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06F 1312
G06F 1338
G06F 1300

US Classification:

395325

Abstract:

A material processing system comprising a plurality of material processing stations and means for transporting articles to be processed serially through the processing stations in a given order, the improvement comprising a central processing station computer, a plurality of peripheral processing stations, each of the peripheral processing stations including a microprocessor, a first data channel serially interconnecting each of the peripheral processing station computers with the central processing station computer, a second data channel connecting each of the peripheral processing station computers directly with the central processing station computers, and a third data channel interconnecting each of the peripheral processing station computers with its next adjacent peripheral processing station computers, each of the channels performing a different data processing operation for controlling the serial processing for transporting articles.

US Patent:

51465876, Sep 8, 1992

Filed:

Dec 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/292060

Inventors:

Robert Francisco - New Fairfield CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06F 1132

US Classification:

395575

Abstract:

In a material processing system comprising a plurality of material processing stations, a base material processing station, and structure directing material to be processed serially through the plurality of stations in a given order to the base station; the improvement wherein each of the plurality of stations and the base station comprises a separate data and control processor, and further comprising a communication loop interconnecting the processors of the plurality of stations in the given order to the processor of the base station and interconnecting the processor of the base station to the processor of the first of the plurality of stations. Each of the processors of the plurality of stations comprises structure for generating an error message concerning a respective station, and structure for passing the error message generated therein to the next succeeding station in the communication loop, wherein each of the processors generates the error message by selecting an appropriate one of a plurality of messages stored in memory locations associated with each the processor. Each of the plurality of messages exists simultaneously in a plurality of spoken languages in the memory locations. The processors include structure for selecting the error messages in one of the languages.

US Patent:

49626230, Oct 16, 1990

Filed:

Dec 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/292157

Inventors:

Robert Francisco - New Fairfield CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B65B 506
B65B 5714

US Classification:

53 54

Abstract:

A material processing system for collating and feeding documents as collations for insertion into an envelope, comprising first and second feeding modules, and an insertion module, each of the feeding modules including document position sensing means and a controller, each of the feeding module controllers responsive to a first signal for creating a collation of documents and generating a second signal indicative of the collation, the second signal indicating an error condition in the collation when the sensors indicate non compliance with the first signal, means for passing the second signal from each feeding module controller to the insertion module, a rejection station positioned in the insertion module, the insertion module including a base controller, the base controller connected to the feeding module controllers and responsive to a collation error condition in the second signal for activating the reject station and rejecting the collation.

US Patent:

51827980, Jan 26, 1993

Filed:

Dec 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/292059

Inventors:

Robert Francisco - New Fairfield CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06F 1300
G06F 1310
G06F 400

US Classification:

395200

Abstract:

A material processing system comprising a plurality of peripheral modules and a base module, the base module including a central processor, each of the peripheral modules including a peripheral processor, a serial data link interconnecting each of the processors in a serial manner, the central processor including means for providing a system command signal along the serial link to the first of the peripheral module processors, each the peripheral processor including means responsive to the system command signal for adding thereto a tag, the tag including data representative of the address and configuration of the module, and for passing the system command signal to the next successive module processor, and means for passing the system command signals and tags appended thereto to the base module central processor, the base module central processor including storage means for storing the address and designation data of each the module.

US Patent:

53216024, Jun 14, 1994

Filed:

Jun 4, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/533193

Inventors:

Robert J. Francisco - New Fairfield CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G05B 1101

US Classification:

364146

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for controlling a machine. The method includes providing a control panel having a plurality of control switches and respectively associated illumination means, identifying by illumination which of the control switches are selectable for control at any given moment; and choosing an operation by selecting one of the control switches whose associated illumination means is illuminated. The apparatus includes a controller and software for controlling a machine. Control switches and associated illumination means are operatively connected to the controller. Selectable switches are identified by illumination of the illumination means associated with the selectable switches.