摘要:
A postage meter includes a slot to receive insertion of an envelope. A registration plate defines a top side of the slot. The registration plate has a window formed therein. The registration plate is for defining a printing location for a top surface of the envelope. A print head is mounted above the registration plate for printing a postage indicium on the top surface of the envelope. The postage meter includes a spring-loaded platform for pressing the envelope against the registration plate. The platform has a recess therein facing the window in the registration plate. The recess has a depth of at least about 5 mm. A cantilever spring is positioned between the window and the recess to apply an upward force to the envelope.
摘要:
An improved thermal printing apparatus has a frame for supporting an elongate thermal print head extending opposite to an elongate print roller. The thermal print is responsive to a microcontroller for printing on an article positioned between the thermal print head and the print roller. The improvement comprises: a drive housing pivotally mounted to the frame, the print roller rotatively mounted to the drive housing, an eject roller rotatively mounted to the drive housing parallel to the print roller, backing means located opposite the eject roller, means responsive to said microcontroller for causing said drive housing to pivotally displace to a first position biasing the print roller in the direction of the thermal print head and against the article for printing, and for causing the drive housing to pivotally displace to a second position biasing the eject roller in the direction of the backing means and against the article when the microcontroller has completed printing. The thermal printing apparatus further comprises compensation means for causing the print roller to displace perpendicular to the thermal print head in response to the thickness of said article while maintaining the biasing force on the article.
摘要:
The front feeder for a high speed machine for handling mixed mail, includes a nudger drive assembly 6 for advancing the mail pieces while maintaining registration, means 56, 57 for fluffing a stack of mail contributing to pre-shingling of the mail as it is advanced downstream, angled decks and a back prop for a guideless hopper region 10, a tamper sub-system 22 for maintaining registration of flapped envelopes, and structure configured to guide open envelope flaps along a slot 35 for downstream sealing purposes.
摘要:
The invention disclosed herein provides a passive rolled tape supply system which supplies at least one tape under tension, preferably constant, to a drive system withdrawin the tape. The system includes a mechanism for tensioning the tape as it is withdrawn and a locking mechanism for locking a roll on which the tape is wound. These mechanisms cooperate to perform the following functions: (a) when the tension on the tape is below a predetermined tension, and the tension on the tape is increased, the reel is locked and the tensioning mechanism maintains the tension at the desired value; (b) after the tension mechanism reaches a predetermined point (near the end of its range of travel), the reel is unlocked and is permitted to rotate and dispense tape therefrom as long as the tension on the tape is maintained at the predetermined tension; (c) when the withdrawing tension on the tape falls below the predetermined tension, the reel is locked, and the tensioning mechanism maintains tape tension by retracting any tape returned to the tape supply. A roller is mounted on a lever. The tape withdrawn from the reel 150 or 151 passes over the roller 160 or 165. The lever 161 or 166 pivots about the axis of the reel on which the tape is wound and moves the roller in opposite directions transverse to the axis. A spring device 173 urges the lever in the first direction. The reel 150 or 151 is locked by a pawl and ratchet mechanism. A spring 206 urges the pawl 197 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 199 to lock the reel. The pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel when the lever is pivoted to a predetermined position.
摘要:
An apparatus and method is disclosed for controlling the operation of a mailing machine having a postage meter which includes a thermal printer (28) which transfers wax ink from an ink ribbon to an envelope (E) being fed through the mailing machine, in such a way that the printer (28) cannot operate if the envelope (E) is not in a proper position in the mailing machine to completely cover a feed roller (52) which controls movement of the envelope and the ink ribbon. The mailing machine includes a microprocessor (84) that responds to sensors (70, 72) positioned along the feed path of the envelope to prevent initiation of a printing operation if an envelope (E) is not properly positioned in the mailing machine, and which terminates an ongoing printing operation in the event, either that the envelope (E) becomes skewed with respect to the normal direction of feed such that it will expose a portion of the feed roller (52), or that the envelope is too short to receive the entire image which is intended to be printed thereon before the trailing edge of the envelope (E) would uncover the feed roller (52).