US 5,719,381 AGranted

Postage meter with hollow rotor axle

AssigneeAscom Hasler Mailing Systems, Inc.

InventorsDaniel Fluckiger, Christian Gillieron, Kurt Nast

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Abstract

A postage meter has a secure housing, an accounting register within the secure housing, and a print rotor the rotation of which defines a paper path. The rotor axle is formed of two halves, and within the two haves is a lengthwise cavity along which setting racks are capable of axial movement. The racks engage with print wheels at one end and are accessible to the main body of the postage meter at the other end. Each rack engages with its value wheel in a rack-and-pinion engagement. The axle halves are made of plastic and they snap together. The racks slide within grooves, and are held in place with pins. The axle has journal bearings and a thrust bearing defining its movement relative to the secure housing. A worm gear in the housing engages a worm wheel in the rotor to bring about rotation of the rotor for the printing of postage.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A postage meter comprising a secure housing, an accounting register within the secure housing, and a print rotor the rotation of which defines a paper path;

said rotor further comprising an axle contained within the secure housing, said rotor rotating about the axis of said axle, said rotor further comprising a plurality of value print wheels and a plurality of racks each having a first end and a second end, each of said racks corresponding with a respective one of the the print wheels, its first end mechanically engaged therewith;
said axle comprising at least first and second portions each portion extending along a majority of the axial length thereof, said first portion in fixed position relative to said second portion, said first and second portions shaped to define a cavity extending along a majority of the axial length thereof, said racks disposed within said cavity and movable axially therewithin, each of said racks surrounded along a portion of its length by said first and second portions;
said first and second portions further shaped to define an opening, the second ends of the racks positioned at the opening;
said axle further comprising guide means disposed within the axle constraining the racks from movement other than axial movement.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.