Back to results
US 6,311,103 B1Granted
Method for run-time performance tuning of an inserter system
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorsWilliam G. Hart, Eugene Pritchard, Michael Shea
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for preparing mailpieces. A inserter system for assembling mailpieces in a mailing job is controlled in accordance with a measure of the fraction of chassis cycles which are empty. The chassis speed is continually adjusted during run-time for a mailing job to minimize the number of “dry holes”, i.e. the fraction of chassis cycles which do not contain a mailpiece.
Claims14
A method for preparing mailpieces, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an inserter system comprising a chassis for assembling mailpieces, the chassis operating cyclically with successive accumulations advancing at the end of each cycle, and a document feeder for feeding accumulations of documents to the chassis, the accumulations containing varying numbers of documents;
- b) operating the document feeder at a fixed linear speed, whereby accumulations are available for input to the chassis at varying intervals substantially depending upon the number of documents in corresponding accumulations, so that there is a possibility that no accumulation will be available for particular cycles of the chassis;
- c) initially operating the chassis at a selected speed;
- d) periodically determining a measure of the fraction of the cycles for which one of the accumulations is available and comparing the measure to a selected value;
- and
- e) if the comparison indicates that the fraction is too low, decreasing the chassis speed;
- and
- f) if the comparison indicates that the fraction is too high, increasing the chassis speed.
5 more elements
An inserter system, comprising:
- a) a chassis for assembling mailpieces, the chassis operating cyclically with successive accumulations advancing at the end of each cycle;
- b) a document feeder for feeding accumulations of documents to the chassis, the accumulations containing varying numbers of documents;
- c) a controller, the controller controlling the inserter system to:
- i) operate the document feeder at a fixed linear speed, whereby accumulations are available for input to the chassis at varying intervals substantially depending upon the number of documents in corresponding accumulations, so that there is a possibility that no accumulation will be available for particular cycles of the chassis;
- ii) initially operate the chassis at a selected speed;
- iii) periodically determine a measure of the fraction of the cycles for which one of the accumulations is available and compare the measure to a selected value;
- and
- iv) if the comparison indicates that the fraction is too low, decrease the chassis speed;
- and
- v) if the comparison indicates that the fraction is too high, increase the chassis speed.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.