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AssigneeAscom Hasler Mailing Systems, Inc.
InventorsStefan Etter, Christian Moy, Christian Gillieron, Philippe Chollet, Kurt Nast
Estimating the term…
A postage meter has the print rotor and platen within a single secure housing, with a letter detection lever along the paper path downstream from the rotor. The letter detection lever is in a spring-loaded coupling relationship with the trigger that triggers franking. If a letter remains in the meter due to a paper jam, the detection lever continues to be actuated and the spring-loaded coupling keeps the trigger in the triggered position. The meter further comprises a platen carrier moving the platen toward and away from the rotor; when the rotor is in its home position a radial cam on the rotor and cam follower keep the carrier away from the rotor. When franking of a letter begins and the rotor begins to rotate, the rotor cam releases the cam follower, permitting the carrier to move up in spring-loaded relation toward the rotor. A letter stopper is in the paper path downstream from the rotor and helps to align the letter so that the postage imprint is optimally oriented on the letter. The trigger includes an enclosure containing a free-moving mass; the weight is constrained from radial and axial movement relative to the trigger pivot. The trigger is balanced in two axes in the plane in which it rotates, thus it has no net moment (or minimal net moment) about its pivot. The mass and the enclosure shape are selected to damp movement of the trigger as it returns to its home position after it is triggered.
A postage meter comprising a print rotor and a resilient platen both within a secure housing, said print rotor and platen rotatable about respective axes parallel to each other, said print rotor rotatable in only one direction, said print rotor having a home position. the print rotor and platen together defining a paper path, the direction of rotation of the print rotor defining a downstream direction of the paper path, the print rotor further comprising a radial cam, the meter further comprising a cam follower positioned within the secure housing in engagement with the cam, said platen held by a carrier movable toward and away from said print rotor, the carrier mechanically linked to the cam follower such that when the cam follower is in a first position the carrier is moved away from the print rotor and when the cam follower is in a second position the carrier is urged toward the print rotor, the cam shaped so that when the print rotor is in its home position the cam follower is in said first position and when the print rotor is away from its home position the cam follower is in its second position, the postage meter further comprising a letter stopper pivoted within the secure housing and rotatable between a first position, in which the letter stopper impedes motion along the paper path at a point downstream of the plane containing the print rotor and platen axes, and a second position in which the letter stopper is out of the paper path, said letter stopper urged toward said first position, said letter stopper mechanically linked with the carrier such that when the carrier is moved toward the print rotor the letter stopper is moved into its second position.
A postage meter comprising a print rotor and a resilient platen both within a secure housing, said print rotor and platen rotatable about respective axes parallel to each other, said print rotor rotatable in only one direction, said print rotor having a home position, the print rotor and platen together defining a paper path, the direction of rotation of the print rotor defining a downstream direction of the paper path, the meter further comprising a trigger and a motor, the motor operatively coupled with the print rotor to cause rotation thereof, the trigger rotating about a pivot within the secure housing and rotatable between a first position in which a portion of the trigger is within the paper path and a second position in which the trigger is out of the paper path, said trigger operatively coupled with a switch having an output indicative of the trigger being out of the paper path, the switch output operatively coupled with the motor to actuate the motor, the trigger further comprising a free-moving mass within an enclosure within the trigger, the enclosure shaped to constrain the mass from movement radial to the pivot and to constrain the mass from movement axial to the pivot, the postage meter further comprising a spring urging the trigger into its first position.
A postage meter comprising a print rotor and a resilient platen, said print rotor and platen rotatable about respective axes parallel to each other, said print rotor rotatable in only one direction, said print rotor having a home position, the print rotor and platen together defining a paper path, the direction of rotation of the print rotor defining a downstream direction of the paper path, the meter further comprising a trigger and a motor, the motor operatively coupled with the print rotor to cause rotation thereof, the trigger rotating about a pivot within the secure housing and rotatable between a first position in which a portion of the trigger is within the paper path and a second position in which the trigger is out of the paper path, said trigger operatively coupled with a switch having an output indicative of the trigger being out of the paper path, the switch output operatively coupled with the motor to actuate the motor, the postage meter further comprising a detection lever pivoted within the secure housing and rotatable between a first position in which a portion of the detection lever lies within the paper path downstream of the print rotor and platen and a second position in which the detection lever is substantially out of the paper path, said detection lever urged into the first position by a first spring means;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.