Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~OSTA~ M~R_yAhUE SEL~CTOR ~ E~L~ING
~_L~EY~.C_L~:lL~ V~L~E SETTING DRI~ MEANS
~KGROUND O~ THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to postage
meters and is concerned more particularly, but not
exclusively, with rotary print drum-type postal meters
including the printing mechanisms and the value setting
10 mechanisms thereof.
Postage meters are devices for dispensing
value in the form of postage printed on a mailpiece
such as an envelope. The term postage meter also
includes other simmilar meters such as parcel post
15 meters. Meters of this type print and account for
postage store2 in the meter. Mechanisms are proYided
in the meter to set a particular value of postage to be
printed on a mailpiece.
Postage meters in use today typically include
20 a set of four adjacent print wheels, each of which
car~ies print element characters zero through nine.
~3~3
The print wheels can be independen~ly positioned to
allow a user to set any amount of postage between
$00.00 (for test purposes) and $99.99.
The print wheels of postage meters have in
the past generally been manually set by a user through
a series of mechanical linkages and leversO Setting
the print wheels manually is no problem for users who
process relatively little mail on a daily basis.
However, for higher volume users, the meter mechanisms
have been adapted for a-utomated operation in recent
10 times.
Postage meters have also been developed with
electronic accounting systems which has led to the
development of printing mechanisms and value setting
mechanisms which cooperate with the electronic circuits
15 in a manner to enhance the capabilities of the postage
meter. ~.S. Patent No. 3,978,457 to Check et al, filed
December 23, 1974, describes an electronic postage
meter in which the printing and value setting
mechanisms are electronically controlled. Each print
20 wheel is set to position a different postage amount by
an ~ndependently rotatable gear mechanism. The gear
mechanisms are engaged by a master gear cne at a time,
the master ge~r being rotatably mounted within a
laterally movable carriage. The carriage can be moved
to cause the master gear to engage in turn with the
gear mechanisms. The carriage is positioned by a pair
5 of solenoids acting through a variable linkage and the
master gear is driven by a stepper motor. The print
drum is driven by a separate motor. An electronic
control system is fully described for operating the
value setting and printi-ng mechanisms in correct
10 sequence in accordance with values selected by
inputting a keyboard. It will also be noted that the
meter may be detachably mounted on a base containing
certain mechanical drives although the drives for the
setting mechanism are contained in the meter itsel~O
UOS. Patent No. 4,050,374 to Check, filed
June 21, 1976, describes a setting mechanism for a
postage meter similar to that employed in the meter of
earlier Patent No. 3,978,457 aforesaid in which the
solenoids for positioning the master gear carriage are
replaced by a stepper motor. It also describes a
mechanism for locking the print drum against rotation
33
during value setting~ Further aspects and alternatives
to the setting mecnanism of such postal meter systems
are disclosed in U.S. Patents 3,965,815 and 3,977,320
to Lupkis et al.
I~.S. Patent No. 4,287,825 to Eckert, Jr. et
5 al, filed October 30, iL979, discloses a setting
mechanism like that in U.S. Patent No. 4,050,374
referred to above with a modified locking mechanism for
the print drum during value selection.
U.S. Patent No. 4,-367,676 to Clark, filed May
10 22, 1981, describes a different approach to value
setting. ~ere a bank of value setting gears equal to
the number of print wheels are drivingly connected to
respective print wheels one at a time to set the print
wheels. A pinion rotated by a stepper motor is shifted
15 from setting gear to setting gear by a tracking
mechanism driven by a separate motor which also rotates
the print drum at the same time. UOS. Patent 4,140,055
to Lallemand, filed June 6, 1977, discloses a print
wheel value changing system using a planet-wheel
20 transmission device in which an eccentrically mounted
pinion meshes with a ring gear within a postage
printing drum which supports a postage printing wheel.
U.S. Patent Nos. 4,301,507 and 4,287,825 are
also of interest; the former patent describing in
detail an electronic control system for use in an
electronic p~stage meter and the latter patent
describing the mechanical aspects of the meter~
Pending U.SO Application Serial No. 447,815, entitled
~Stand-Alone Electronic Mailing Machine~ by D. Buam and
A. Eckert, filed on December 8, 1982, assigned to the
same assigne~ as the instant application, discloses
10 further details of electronic control systems, as well
as the mechanic~l aspects, suitable for postage meters
and specifically describes a flat bed-type of printer.
Also of interest in this area are ~.S. Patent
Nos. 3,965,815 and 3,977,320 which relate to
15 electro-mechanical setting mechanisms for rotary drum
postal meters. Other patents of general interest
include ~.S. Patents 3,876,870, 3,890,491; 3,892,355;
3,918,361 and 3,949,203 issued to Malavazos et al.
The present invention embodies various
20 improvements to postage meters generally and
particularly to the printing mechanisms therefor. A
513~
novel system is disclosed for the setting of the
postage val~e amounts in postage meters and for driving
and operating the meter. The system includes, inter
alia, a novel approach to moving the gear means which
control the value selection for printing on the
mailpiece by the postal meters, particularly a system
of the type wherein the gearing is located about a
single drive shaft and contained within the printing
drum.
Different aspects of the invention as set
10 forth herein variously include several advantages over
prior art devices. The number of gear setting devices
and, thus, the number of print devices, is not limited
by the setting mechanism. In previous systems, a
relatively small number of gears, such as four setting
15 racks, had been used to change the four digits of
postage (S00.00).
Aspects of the present invention permit a
larger number of setting devices and a compact, in
printing drum, value setting system. Thus, in one
20 form, if the diameter of the printing drum is made of
suitable size, many more print devices can be
conveniently usedO This enables additional changeable
information, such as date, logos, cities, etc , to be
placed on the postal stamp which can be quickly and
easily varied.
In addition, relatively speedy value setting
is possible. Furthermore,the present invention
provides good security and integrity of settings and
possible, electronic control of the value selection
system can be utilized. Also, no positive sequence is
necessary in setting the value in the presently
10 disclose~ system. In addition, a unique home position
is available which disables the print drum when
selecting values~ There is also a reduction in the
number of parts in the system compared with prior art
devices with consequent cost reduction achieved.
S~HM~RY OP_~E INYE~TI~
The invention is generally concerned with
postage meters for printing selected value amounts on a
20 print receiving surface of the kind having a support
and a plurality of value print devices mounted on the
~3
support, said devices each having a plurality of value
prislt elements and being selecti~-ely movable to align
selected val~e print elements. Means is provided for
driving said support to move selected value print
elements through a printing position to form an imprint
on a said print receiving surface. Means is also
provided for setting or adjusting the value print
devices to align the selected print elements in
accordance with selected print values. The support
suitably comprises a rota~able print drum with the
lO value print devices comprising print wheels which are
mounted within the drum and are selectively adjustable
to align selected print elements in an operative
position in which they are exposed at the surface of
the drum.
One aspect of this invention is concerned
with a postage meter of this kind in which the
adjustment or setting means is moved to selectively
associate it with the print devices one at a time and a
single motor is utilized to effect both the movement of
20 the setting means to associate it with the value print
devlces and also the operation of the settins means to
8~
adjust the value print devices.
In one form, the automatic setting or
adjustment means comprises value selection means for
selectively a~justing the val~e print devices one at a
time to align selected value print elements and print
device selection means for selectively associating the
value selection means with respective value print
devices. In accordance with the invention, the drive
means for the value selection means and the print
device selection means has a single shaft driven by a
10 single motor selectively engageable with the value
selection means and the print device selection means
one at a time. Suitable control means control the
engagement and operation of the value selection means
and the print device selection means in accordance with
15 selected print values.
Another aspect of this invention is concerned
with a posta~e meter of the general kind set forth ;n
which a single motor is utilize~ to selectively drive
both the automatic setting or adjustment means and the
20 support; e.g., print drum. The automatic setting
(adjustment) means may be of the kind which is moved to
selectively associate the print devices one at a time
in which case the drive motor may also effect both the
movement of the setting means to associate it with the
value print devices and the operation of the setting
means to adjust the value print devices~
Further ~spects of the invention are
concerned with postage meters of the general.kind set
forth in which the value selection means comprises a
plurality of preferably toothed transmission members
such as gears connected to respective value prînt
10 devices and means for displacing the gears
(transmission members).
According to one of these aspects, means is
engageable with each of the gears, apart from the gear
being driven, for locking the gears against movement.
15 Thus, a slotted locking ring may be rotatable to align
the slot with the gear to be moved while locking all
the other ~ears against movement.
According to another, means is provided for
locking the gears against rotation during movement of
2G the support (print drumt and means is also provided for
locki~g the support against driving movement except
~6~ 3
11
when the gears are locked by the gear locking means.
According to an embodiment of the inventionr a
single main drive gear is displaceable for selectively
engaging vario~s driven elements of the postage meter.
A main drive gear is driven by suitable motor means and
5 means is pr~ ided for disp~acing the main drive gear at
least between a position in which it drives the value
selector and a position in which it drives the print
drum. The main drive gear is driven by suitable motor
means and means are provi~ed for displacing the main
10 drive gear between a first position in which it is
drivingly engaged with the value selection means and a
second position in which it is drivingly engaged with
the print device selection means.
In one embodiment of the invention, the drive
15 system ~or effecting print device selection, value
selection and printing is driven from a single shaft
driven by a single motor. The mechanism for print
device selection, value selection and printing may be
located wholly within the printing drum. The shaft has
20 a master gear attached thereto which selectively is
driYingly engageable with a drum gear and a value
j U !; ~ 1 i ' ,ill r1~ I >~ I r3 u ~ ,f:, rl t ~i r ~ i t i o n o f t ~ P
111.1';~:- r ~1~ .lr 1~ iVf:' I}l('~'t(/~ 1~ cont lol nleans wh.ich
y t"~ ,( ,l t ~ t},~ (~r: lllrl ( ~lrl ~n~lb:l ~ th~
IlI;I' ~.~'r ~ .lr: t:0 t~t~ I~'p(~!:,i t i()nC~d. '~ ' n;lme control means
nl~ly ,~ e n~ d ~o 10~k 1~" dlllm frc)m rot~tion w~.~n
,~ d~ ni r at~:l f'.
11l pl::ev:io~; pontage meter s~tting systems
h.avin~ valll~ s~ ct ion mcans ~nd print device se]ection
IllI`rlllS~ it )~a~s ~-c en nec(:ssary to associ;~te the value
sel~-~ctic?n me~llr, ~ith the prlnt devices in some s~rt of
eqLI~nCe whs~thcr they all required adj~stment or not.
Ac~cording t:o a novel Eeature of this invention, the
E)ri.nt device select:lon means is 2ssociated during each
va:lue settin~ cycle only with such print device
selectic~n mc~ans (if ~ny) which require adj~strnent to
I r, set: t~he ~ lected value amount. To this end, the
contrc)1 mearls suita):)~y includes means for comparing a
t,e:lected value amount wit:h the next precedin~ value
~mount to dete~rmine which o said value print devices
re~1uire acljustmel~t and associating the value selection
mei~n:~; only witll v~lue print devices requirin~
nci jllstmellt in an o~cler dependent upon said
13
etermination.
~n one embodiment o-F the invention, control of the
value of the print devices as well as the selection of a
particular print device -to change its value may be accomplished
by the use of absolute position encoding means on the print
devices and on the value to be printed by the indivudual
print devices. This in turn allows the elimination of stops
and may permit bidirectional, shortest path set-ting of -the
print devices.
Another aspect of this invention is as follows:
A postage meter for printing elected value amounts
on a print receiving surface, comprising:
rotatable print drum having an axis,
a plurality of value print wheels mounted within
the print drum and each having a plurality of
value print elements, said print wheels being
selectively adjustable to align selected print
elements in a operative position in which they are
exposed at the surface of the drum,
drive means for rotating said print drum to move
the selected va:lue print elements through a printing
position to form an imprint on a said print receiving
surface,
i8~3~
13A
value selection means comprising a plurality of
value selection transmission members, equal in
number to the number of prin-t wheels and each
associated with a different print wheel, and
transmission member moving means selectively
engageable with said transmission members for
displacing said transmission members one at a time
to adjust said print wheels -to position selected
print wheels in operative position,
print wheel selection means comprising means for
transferring said transmission member moving means
from transmission member to transmission member to
selectively engage said transmission member moving
means with respective said transmission members,
said drive means further providing drive for said
value selection means and said print wheel selection
means comprising a first motor selectively engage-
able with said transmission member moving means
and said transmission member to transmission
member transfer means for driving said member to
member transfer means while said moving means is
disabled and for driving said moving means while
said member to member transfer means is disabled
and for selectively engaging said print drum, and
second motor for effecting said selective engagement
of said first motor,
~2~5~3~3
13B
control means for controlling said motors in
accordance with selected print values, and
said second motor is arranged to displace a main
gear coaxial with the rotary axis of said printing
drum into selective engagement with a first gear
means for driving said transmission member moving
means and a second gear means for driving said
transmission member to transmission member transfer
means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more readily
understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a simplified perspective view of a
postage meter incorporating apparatus according to the
present invention.
Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the
relationship of elements within the postage meter.
Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional
.,
8~
illustration of the printing drum, value adjustment
mechanism and control system for the value adjustment
mechanism.
Figure 4 is a section view of Figure 3 taken
through section 4-4.
Figure 5 is a section view of Figure 3 taken
through section 5-5.
DETAIL~ED~ pESCRI;!?TlQ~
Referring to the drawings, particularly
Figure 1, there is shown a postage meter 20 according
to the invention which can be removably fixed to a base
22. A slot 24 is provided between the meter 20 and the
15 base 22, at the forward edge thereof, for receiving
envelopes or the like and the printing of postage
thereon. The postage meter is provided with a display
panel 26, preferably an electronic display, as well as
a control panel 28. Any suitable type of electronic
20 control system may be used with the rotary value
mechanism disclosed herein~
33
The meter 20 could be made remo~able from the
base 22 in any suitable manner; for instance,in the
manner disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2, 934,009, Bach et
al, which incorporates a mechanical drive for operation
of the printing mechanism in the base. The
separability of the meter and base, inter aliar
simplifies servlcing and transport of the meter for
recharging.
The control panel for the postage meter can
be any suitable type, such as one provided with a
10 numeric or alphanumeric display 26. For example, a
conventional multiplexed, seven-segment LED or LCD
display may be used. In addition, the control panel
can be provided with numeric setting keys 30 and a
decimal key 32 for setting the meter to print a desired
15~amount of postage, the amount normally being displayed
on the display 26. A clear key 34 may also be provided
to clear the display amount in the event, for example,
of an erroneous entry. When the displayed amount has
been set to the desired value, depression of a set
20 postage key 36 effects setting of the printing
mechanism~ Printing may be initiated by the insertion
16
of an ~nvelope or the depression of a print key~
The panel may further be provided with a
series of keys enabling the selective display of other
~alues on the display 26. For example, keys may be
provided for displaying the contents of an as~ending
S register; i.e., the postage used by the meter, a
descending register; i.e.l the postage for which the
meter is still charged, and other desired information.
Further, a service switch (not shown) at the back of
the meter may be operated to use the keys of the meter
10 for diagnostic and other service functions. The meter
may be adapted for remote meter resetting as discussed,
for example, in U.S. Patent No~ 4,097,923. Further
details of these functions are to be found, for
example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,301,507 referred to
15 beloW-
The printing mechanism, as shown in Figures3-5, includes a print drum 410 mounted in the meter 20
over the slot 24 and having an opening in its periphery
411 through which selected print elements project. For
20 printing the selected print value on an envelope, the
drum is rotated to press the print elements against the
~ . :
33
17
envelope which is driven through the slot 24 by
frictional contact with the drum. The print elements
which are suitably mounted on the peripheries of a
series of print wheels 416, as shown in Figure 5, are
rotated to align the selected value print elements for
5 printing in the c>pening~
Adjustment or setting of the print wheels is
effected by a setting mechanism controlled in
accordance with selected print values input at the
keyboard 28 by means of a suitable control system such
10 as an electronic control system. Suitable electronic
control systems are described in U.S. Patent No.
3,978,457 to Check et al and U.S. Patent No. 4r301r507
to Soderberg et al.
The improved postage meter system
incorporates drives to the printing mechanism including
the setting mechanism thereof as well as the
relationships of the various drives. Particular
features are the selective driving of plural elements
of the printing mechanism off a common main or master
20 drive gear and the use of a single drive motor for
several functions. These features will become more
18
readily apparent from an underst~nding of the rotary
print value selector ill~strated in Figures 3 - 5,
reference to which is now made.
Figure 3 describes the components within
rotatable print drum 410. Print drum 410 contains the
means for selectively adjusting the value print wheels
416 to select their positions so that the appropriate
print elements are in operative position to apply the
proper postage to the mailpiece. This includes the
value selection means for~- selectively adjusting the
10 value print devices one at a time to align selected
value print elements in the printing plane; a print
device selection means for selectively associating the
value selection means with the respective value print
device; and means for driving the rotatable print drum
15 or support for moving the selected value print elements
to a printing position to form an imprint on the print
receiving surface such as a mailpiece.
Contained within drum 410, in this
embodiment, is adjustment system 420 which performs
20 both value selection and print device selection. In
addition, control system 440 enables the operator to
s~
19
manually or automatically control the mode in which the
postage meter will be operated.
Adjustment system 420 includes master gear
422 and an adjustment assembly 430. It is through the
combination of master gear 422, adjustment assembly
430, drum 410 and control system 440 that the three
modes of operation are possible. m e three modes of
operation include print device or bank selection, value
or digit selection and printing.
The three modes of operation, in this
10 embodiment, are possible with the use of only one drive
shaft, shaft 404, and one axially sliding, three
position control system 440. In addition, the system
disclosed herein has the advantage of locking the print
drum in its home position while value setting occurs,
15 locking the value print wheels when they are not beiny
adjusted and locking the whole adjustment system when
printing, or drum cycling, takes place. A single shaft.
shaft 404, drives all functions of the drum and aajusts
all changeable printed information such as postage
20 amounts, date, advertising slogan, mail class, etc. In
addition, the use of a single shaft with a smoothf
5~3
simple~ axially sliding control link allows better sealing
of the meter body from the external environment thereby
keeping ink, dust, and other foreign bodies from entering
the meter body. This mechanism also makes it possible to
position all of the movable elements of the drum with on'~
one shaft encoder means for ease of system control.
The three modes of operation to effect drum value
setting and printing are essentially carried out by
selectively positioning master gear 422 which is mounted
on and turns with shaft 404. The position of master gear
422 is in turn controlled by control system 440. Control
system 440 acts on master gear 422 on shaft 404 through
axially slidable ring 444 and select member 448. Position
rod 446 is pivotally mounted on frame 406 through pin 477
so that rod 446 can move either clockwise or
counterclockwise about pin 477. Shaft 404 is mounted by
suitable bearings to frame 406 so the shaft can turn
relative to the frame. In addition, drum 410 and shaft
404 can turn relative to one another due to suitable
bearings on either end of the drum~
Shaft 404 has a channel 452 therein which
~6~33
21
carries select ~ember 448. Select member 448 has a
connec~ing portion 450 on one end thereof (left end in
Figure 3) and a slotted portion 451 on the other end
thereof (right end in ~igure 3). As drum 404 is
rotated, it carries with it channel 452 and select
5 member 448. Select member 448 cle~rs positioning rod
446 during such rotation due to slot 4~1. Connecting
portion 450 of the select rod engages master gear 422
through keyway 421 in the master gear. The purpose of
select rod 448 is to positibn master gear 422 in one of
10 three positions relative to drum 410 and adjustment
mechanism 430 to operate the system in one of the three
modes of operation.
Three modes of operation are possible
depending on the position of positioning rod 446. The
15 three modes are the digit select mode (value selection)
wherein rod 446 is in the neutral or vertical position;
the bank select mode (print device selection) ~herein
rod 446 is moved in the counterclockwise direction and
control rod 442 is positioned left of its neutral
20 position; and the printing mode ~print drum cycling)
wherein rod 446 is moved in the clockwise direction and
22
control rod 442 is located to the right of ics neutral
position. Any suitable means for moving rod 446 can be
used. For instance, rod 446 can be moved to each of
the three positions by the operator manually doing so.
Alternatively, rod 446 can be placed in any of the
three positions by any suitable automatic means such as
a so]enoid or motor which is automatically operated
from the keyboardO
The top of positioning rod 446 is mounted
onto and can pivot relativQ to control rod 442 through
10 pin 449. Pin 449 moves within slot 460 of rod 446 to
accommodate the rotary motion of rod 446 to the linear
motion of rod 442. Control rod 442 passes freely
through frame opening 454 and, depending upon its
position. may engage drum lock channel 414.
Adjustment system 420 includes master gear
422 and ring gear 424. Ring gear 424 has gear teeth on
its outer periphery which can mesh with drum gear 412
and select gear 432. ~owever, ring gear 424 has a
non-tooth surface on its inner periphery allowing it to
20 be freely rotated relative to and be supported by the
left hand portion of the surface of master gear 422.
- 23
Teeth 412 of drum gear 410 may be made out of and be
inte~ral with the drum material. Master gear 422 has
teeth on the periphery of its mid and right hand
portions that are engageable and meshable with the
teeth on select gear 432 and co~bination spur and
bevel gear 434.
Select rod 448, deper.ding upon the direction
it movesr carries master gear 422 axially along shaft
404. Ring gear 424 moves axially relative to shaft 404
along wi~h master gear 4~2 as it changes position.
10 Ring gear 424 serves to lock select gear 432 to gear
412 in the digit selection or neutral position. This
occurs by drum 410 being locked by rod 442 and the
teeth of ring gear 424 being engaged with drum gear 412
and master gear 432~ Ring gear 424 is able to stay
15 stationary at this time due to the fact that master
gear 422 can rotate relative to inner surface of the
ring gear. The position of ring gear 424 is determined
according to the position of master gear 422, this
association being accomplished in any suitable manner
20 such as side flanges 461 and 462 on the master gear
which keep the two gears together along shaft 404.
24
Adjustment assembly 430 also includes select
gear 432 and combination spur and bevel gear 434 which
are adapted to be driven by the master gear 422. Select
gear 432 and combination spur and bevel gear 434 have
teeth on their internal and external surfaces,
respectively, which are meshable and engageable with
the master gear. Select gear 432 has a first set of
teeth on its internal surface, left hand portion, that
is engageable and meshable with ring gear 424. It also
has a second set of teeth..on its internal surface,
10 right hand portion, that is engageable and meshable
with master gear 422. Combination spur and bevel gear
434 has a conically-shaped gear portion which meshes
with the conically shaped gear portion of combination
spur and bevel gear 43S. The motion of combination
15 spur and bevel gear 434 is passed onto combination spur
and bevel gear 436 through their respective
conically-shaped surfaces.
Combination spur and bevel gear 436, as will
be explained below, is selectively positionable to
20 engage and drive one at a time each print device 416
mounted on the drum. As can be seen in ~igure 3,
2~
combination spur ~nd bevel aear 436 is engaged with one
of the print devices 416 through idler gear 438 and
print device aear 418. Idier gear 43~ and print device
gear 418 are mounted on the drum 410 via bracket 437
and rotate about shafts 457 and 456, respectively.
Select gear 432 can be mounted ~n and
concentrically rotated relative to drum 410 by virtue
of a suitable bearin~. Combination spur and bevel gear
434 is mounted on select gear 432 through shaft 433 and
is allowed to turn freel~ on its shaft relative to
10 select gear 432. Combination spur and bevel gear 436
is also mounted (not shown in Figure 3) on select gear
432 so that it can be driven from master gear 422
through combination spur and bevel gear 434. The
conically-shaped portions of combination spur and bevel
15 gears 434 and 436 are maintained in continuous mesh
during all three modes of operationr
Print device 416 can be of the type that is
used in conventional rotary postal meter systems. The
periphery of the device can have a plurality of value
20 print e]ements 458, as shown in ~igure 5, about it,
and, depending upon which element is placed in opening
26
411, the postage can be selected. Only one print
element on the periphery of a particular print device
416 can project throu~h opening 411, and into the
vicinity of the s~rface of drum 410, at a time.
The term ~digit select" as used her~in
refers to placing that digit or symbol on the periphery
of an individual print device 416 that is actually in
position tprojects through opening 411) to print on the
mailpiece. The term "bank select" as used herein
refers to placing the adjustment mechanism in
10 engagement with the particular print device 416 that is
to be changed. In a typical postage meter of the type
described herein, there are generally a-plurality of
print devices 416 that together make up the complete
field of changeable information.
In accordance with a feature of this
invention. the main drive motor for rotating the
printing drum snaft, shaft 404, also drives print
device selection and value selection. Motor 402, as
shown in Figures 2 and 3, is controlled by the
20 information that is placed into the keyboard ~8 by the
operator~ Such control is maintained by any suitable
~7~6~
27
device, as mentioned otherwise herein, such as by an
electronic controller designated as 500 in Figure 2.
Controller 500, at the appropriate times, activates
motor 402 to turn shaft 404. Since shaf, 404 can
optionally turn in either direction, a suitable motor
for this purpose would be a d.c. motor.
m e control system may optionally function in
an automatic manner. In this case, a second motor, such
as stepper motor 455, could be used to position the
control rod 442 through any suitable linkage to control
10 rod 442. For instance, the control rod could have a
rack-like portion 443 which is driven by control rod
gear 441 which in turn is accurately positioned by
stepper motor 455.
Depending upon the position of master gear
15 422, shaft 404, when rotated by motor 402r can drive
adjustment system 420 to set the postage value or cycle
the printing drum for applying post2ge to the
mailpiece. Figure 3 depicts adjustment mechanism 420,
print drum 410 and control system 440 when the digit
select mode is intended to be operated. In this
position, control rod 442 passes through frame opening
~6~i~i83
28
454 an~ eng2ges with lock channel 414 so that the drum
cannot rotate relative to frame 406n Also at this
time, select member 448 positions master gear 422 to
rotate print device 416 to bring the appropriate
printing element 458 into opening 411 in drum 410. In
this position, ring gear 424, which moves in accordance
with the position of mzster gear 422, is in engagement
with drum gear 412. At this time, ring gear 424 is
also simultaneously engaging the teeth on select gear
432 and, therefore, gear 432 is prevented from rotating
10 since drum 410 is locked in its home position. In the
digit select mode, master gear 422 is engaging
combination spur and bevel gear 434 which has t~o
portions, a standard gear portion and a conical gear
portion.
When shaft 404 rotates, it turns master gear
422 which is keyed tc it. Master gear 422 drives
combination spur and bevel gear 434 which in turn
drives combination spur and bevel sear 436. It is
assumed at this time that combination spur and bevel
20 gear 436 is in engagement with one of the idler gears
438 associated with a particular print device 416. The
5~33
29
rotation of c~mbi~ation spur and bevel gear 436 drives
idler gear 438 and in turn print device gear 418~ In
this manner, print elements 45~ on the periphery of
print device 416 can he placed in opening 411 of drum
410 selectlvely.
Positioning of the print elements on print
device 416 may be accomplished accurately by providing
absolute encoders for each print wheel which would
allow bi-directional, shortest path setting.
Alternatively, stops could be provided on the print
10 devices 416 and incremental bi-directional rotation
sensing of suitable resolution on the drive shaft to
control the rotation of the print devices through the
controller 500. In this case, there would be need or
only one enco~er which would be used for computation of
15 the position of all elements driven by the shaft.
As shat 404 rotates carrying with it master
gear 422 in the digit select mode, combination spur and
bevel aear 434 drives print device 416. During this
time, select gear 43~ remains stationary as does drum
20 41Qo This relative movement is possible by virtue of
the fact that drum 410 is locked down by control rod
442, and any relâtive movement between master gear 422,
on the one hand, and drum gear 412 and select gear 432,
on the other hand,is taken up by the slidin~ action
bet~een ring gear 424 and the left hand portion of
master gear 422.
A description is now given for the bank
select mode of the system with reference to Figures
3-5. Since there are a number of print devices 416
arranged adjacent opening 411, provision is made to
change any of them that require adjustment. For
10 instance, to accommodate postage up to $99.99, a system
would have four print devices 416 for value, and
perhaps additional such devices to change other
information that is selectable such as the date,
advertising slocan, mail class, etc. Thus, there can
15 be a plurality of purposes as well as a plurality of
print devices arranged in the drum which must be
selected by the bank select mode.
In order to select a particular print device
so that it can be adjusted to the proper information to
20 be printed, the bank select mode of the postage system
is activated. The following description also applies
. , .. , . . . . . , . . , . .. .. ,,; .. . .. .... .. .
~ 3~
when one would want to place the bank select mechanism
into a free wheeling, disengaged or ne~tral position.
Control rod 442 is moved to the left, either
manually or auto~atically, thrusting the left end of the
control rod further into the drum locking channel 414 as
shown in the do~ed lines thereby assuring that the drum
is locked in its home position. When this occurs, select
member 448 is also moved, but to the right in Figure 3.
This is because position rod 446 rotates about pin 447,
which is attached to frame 406, in the counterclockwise
direction. Since the slotted portion 451 of select member
448 is moved by position rod 446 and is located below
pivot 447, it moves the select member 448 to the right.
When this happens, ring 444 slides along shaft 404 to the
right being driven in that direction by the action of
position rod 446 through pin 445.
Position rod 446, at its lower end adjacent
slot 451 of the select member, branches into collar
portion 463 which surrounds the upper half of shaft
404. Collar portion 463 is pivoted about and attached
to ring 444 by pins 445. There are two pins 445,
one on either side of the shart 404. Pins 445 ride in
slots 464 to accommodate the rotary motion ofcollar portion
463 to the linear motion of ring 444. 5elect member 448
is solid below slot 451, however, the bottom of slot 451
is below the surface of shaft 4040 Due to this
configuration, select member 448 clears ring 444, collar
463 and rod 446 as it is rotated with shaft 404.
The teeth on the outer surface at ring gear 424
disengage from the teeth of print drum gear 412 and master
gear 422 is engaged with the adjustment assembly 430. In
addition, master gear 422 drives combination spur and bevel
gears 434 and 436. As a result, combination spur and bevel
gears 434 and 436 are locked with and become a fixed paxt
of the adjustment assembly 430, and, more particularly, a
fixed part of select gear 432.
Consequently, in the bank select mode, mastex
gear 422 and adjustment assembly 430 including select gear
432 and combination spur and bevel gears 434 and 436
rotate as an integral assembly when drive shaft 404
rotatesO Select gear 432 has a tooth profile which
8~:3
33
slides into and locks in position with idler gear 438
associ~ted with edch print device 416. Alignment member
465 on select gear 432 keeps the idler gears 438 in
position for the non-conically shaped portion of
combination spur a~d bevel gear 436 to easily slide
into and engage therewith during bank selection. Thus,
the alignment member of select ~ear 432 locks in
position idler gears 438 except for the one being reset
by the adjustment assembly.
By controlling t~e rotation of drive shaft
10 404, adjustment assembly 430 is positioned so that
combination spur and bevel gear 436 engages with a
desired bank. Again, adjustment assembly 430 and, more
particularly, the select gear 432 or some other
àppropriate component of the adjustment assembly, may
15 be provided with an absolute encoder to keep track of
its position relative to the banks in print drum 410.
Optionally, it may be provided with a stop and the same
encoder on the drive shaft used for print device
positioning may be used to compute bank select assembly
position.
The third mode of operation is the print mode
t~
34
which is now descri~ed in conjunction with Figures 3-5.
In this mode, drum 410f already having the correct
print elements selected for the postage to be applied,
is rotated to apply postage onto a mailpiece. In order
to place the mechanism i~to the print mod~ so that the
drum 410 can cycle through a full revolution from its
home position, control rod 442 moYeS to the right into
its print position~ The movement of control rod 442 to
the right or print position can be subject to blockage
by an interposer (not sho~n) controlled by the meter
10 microprocessor directly, such interposer being removed
only when all conditions for printing are met. For
instance, the microprocessor could power a solenoid
which would withdraw the hlocking element at the
appropriate time for drum cycling.
When the control rod 442 moves to the right
into the print mode, the left end of control rod 442
also moves to the right and removes itself from drum
lock channel 414. This frees drum 410 for rotation.
Again, the movement of control rod 442 to the right
20 provides a corresponding movement of select member 448
to the left due to the clockwise rotation of position
.
rod 446. Select m~mber 448 moves to the left by virtue
of the interaction between its slotted portion 451 which
rides with position rod 446 as it is moved in the clockwise
direction. Ring 444 and pin 445 move to the left also
a~ong shaft 404. Master gear 422 and ring g~ar 424 are
moved to the left by select member 448. In this position,
master gear 422 engages drum 410 by the left hand portion
of the master gear fitting into receiving cavity 459 of
the drum. Adjustment assembly 430, and particularly
select gear 432 and combination spur and bevel gear 434,
are also directly engaged by master gear 422 at this time.
In the print mode, drum 410 and adjustment
mechanism 430, including select gear 432 and combination
spur and bevel gear 434, are locked together and
rotate simultaneously as a unit with the rotation
of shaft 404. The left end profile of master gear
422 and receiving cavity 459 of drum 410 can be
configured so that engagement therebetween is allowed
only when drive shaft 404 (which is keyed to master
gear 422) is in its home position with respect to
sensors and interlocking mechanisms in the meter body.
36
Thus, in the print mode, shaft 404 and master gear 422
drive drum 410 through a complete revolution of the
printing cycle while all the rest of the elements of
a~ ustment assembly 430 are driven as a unit with the
drum.
It is noted that in the print ~rlode,
adjustment assembly 430 i5 positioned in a home
position in which combination spur and be~el gear 436
is not engaged with any of the gearing of any of the
banks of print devices 416.- In bank select mode, the
combination spur and bevel gear 436 is brought from the
home position to those print devices 416 which are to
be changed. Af$er this has been accomplished,
combination spur and bevel gear 436 is brought back to
its home position where it is again positioned so as
not to be engaged with any of the banks of print
devices 416.
In accordance with a feature of this
embodiment of the invention, adjustment assembly 430
can be contained within the drum 410 and the main motor
can be housed in the base 22 of the system~ Drum 410
and its internal components can be mounted in the meter
37
20 which can be removed from the base. It will be
understood that througho~t the various modes of
operation, the anqular position of ~he shaft 404, and
perhaps other elements within the drum which are
rotatable, and the mode of operation, as indicated by
the position rod 446, can be constantly monitored by
encoder discs. ~hese discs may continuously feed
signals about the movements of these elements to
controller 500, the controller receiving such input in
the manner described in -the aforesaid U.S. Patent
10 3,987,457.
A suitable sensor for sensing the position of
the print cycle can also be connected into the
controller. A suitable comparator can also be provided
for comparing each new position for a print wheel with
15 its existing position to enable the proper sequencing.
While the drive motor and selector motor are preferably
d~c. and stepper motors, respectively, other suitable
motors or motor combinations may be used.
Sequencing of the adjustment assembly need
20 not be accomplished in any set manner each time the
postage amount is to be reset. Since the gear means,
8,~
38
in this embodiment gear 438, is disposed in an annular
array around the gea~ means displacement means, in this
embodiment adjustment assembly 430, bank selection can
occur by rotating drive shaft 404 and master gear 422
in either direction.
This is partic~larly useful if all of the
print wheels do not have to be chan~ed in the resetting
process since the value selection means and print
device selection means can be controlled such that the
value selection means is associated during each value
10 setting cycle only with such value print devices (if
any) which require adjustment to set the selected value
amount or other changable information. The positions
of the value selection means and print device selection
means can be monitored and the control device can
15 control engagement and operation of these selector
means by the motor in accordance with said
determinations. Thus, by sequencing the print device
and value selector means, control can be carried out
without stops such that the print device selector means
20 is brou~ht to the value print device by rotating it in
the direction that takes the shortest distance or time
.
~r~ 3
39
to bring the two into operative engagement~
This invention is disclosed in the context of
a postal meter, however, other types of meters and
devices may have the invention applied thereto with
5 equal value. Other such meters can include parcel
service devices, tax stamp devices, check writing
devices~ etc.
The detailed description herein concentrates
on those aspects of the postal meter and its operation
which pertain to the principal improvements over the
prior art. Aspects of tbe postal meter system
described in a more general manner may be of any well
known conventional construction.
It should be understood that the above
described embodiments of the invention are illustrative
only and that modifications thereof may occur to those
~killed in the art. Accordingly, this invention is not
to be regarded as limited to the embodiments disclosed
herein but is to be limited only as defined by the
appended claim~.
