JPH059945U - Postage meter - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Correction) [Purpose] Providing a large amount of numerical information quickly and reliably using a relatively small number of racks. [Arrangement] A print drum 202, a numeric print wheel 208, and a numeric print element 209 are provided. A numeric print wheel for aligning the numeric print element and a print drum are driven to move through a print position,
Drive device 23 for moving a numerical printing element to form a print
0, 236, M ₃ , an axially movable rack 210 connected to the numerical printing wheel for adjusting the numerical printing wheel, and a rack capable of engaging with one rack at a time and driving the numerical value. Rack replacement pinion means 214 for adjusting print wheels, rack replacement pinion means moving devices 216, 218, 220 for selectively engaging the means 214 with racks arranged around the means 214, and means 214
And a drive device 226, 228, 232, 234, M ₁ , M for independently driving the rack replacement pinion means moving device.
₂ and.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a postage meter, and more particularly, to a rotary printing drum type postage meter including a printing mechanism and a numerical setting mechanism.

A postage meter is a device that prints postage in the form of printed stamps on postal items such as envelopes. The term postage meter also includes other similar meters such as those for parcel postage. This type of meter calculates and prints the preset postage in the meter. A mechanism for printing the postage on the mail is provided in the meter.

[0003]

[Prior Art]

 Postage meters currently in use typically include four adjacent print wheels, each of which is engraved with a print element number 0-9. The print wheel is independently located so that the user of the instrument can set any postage amount from $ 0.000 to $ 99.99.

The printing wheels of postage meters have in the past usually been manually adjusted by the user by a series of mechanical linkages and levers. For those who handle relatively few mail items per day, setting the print manually was not a problem.

However, for those who handle a larger amount of mail, recently, an automatically operated mechanism has been installed.

Postage meters have also developed with electronic computing devices that have led to the development of printing mechanisms, and numerical setting mechanisms that cooperate with electronic circuits to increase the capacity of postage meters.

As postage meters known so far, US Pat. Nos. 3,978,457, 4,050,374, 4,367,676 and 4,140,0 are known. There is No. 55.

However, in US Pat. No. 3,978,457 (filed on Dec. 23, 1974), the print wheel can be positioned at different four-digit postage amounts by an independently rotatable gear mechanism. It is set to be possible. One gear mechanism engages with the master gear at a time, and the master gear is rotatably mounted in the laterally movable carriage. The carriage moves so that the master gear sequentially engages with each gear mechanism. The carriage is positioned by a pair of solenoids that operate via a variable link mechanism, and the master gear is driven by a step motor. The print drum is driven by another motor.

US Pat. No. 4,050,374 (filed June 21, 1976) also discloses a four-digit postage fee similar to that used in US Pat. No. 3,978,457 mentioned above. In the setting mechanism for the meter, the setting mechanism in which the solenoid for positioning the master gear carriage is replaced by a step motor and the mechanism for locking the print drum so as not to rotate during numerical setting are described.

Further, US Pat. No. 4,367,676 (filed May 22, 1981) describes a different scheme for setting the numerical value. Here, the printing wheels are set by driving four rows of numerical setting gears, which are equal to the number of printing wheels, and connecting them to each printing wheel one at a time. The pinion rotated by the step motor moves from the set gear to the set gear by the tracking device driven by an independent motor that simultaneously rotates the print drum.

US Pat. No. 4,140,055 (filed on June 6, 1977) discloses a pinion eccentrically attached to a ring gear in a postage printing drum supporting a postage printing wheel. Describes a 4-digit print wheel numerical value changing mechanism using a planetary wheel transmission device meshing with each other.

[0012]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, although various techniques as described above have been announced so far, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,978,457 and 4,050,374, the operation of the carriage is performed via a variable link mechanism. However, the structure was complicated and efficient operation could not be obtained. Further, in US Pat. No. 4,367,676, since the print drum and the tracking device are driven by the same motor, the tracking device cannot be driven while the print drum is stationary, and the tracking work is troublesome. It took a long time for the print setting work. Further, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,140,055, a planetary wheel transmission device was used, so that the printing wheel numerical value changing mechanism in the drum was complicated, the cost of the device itself was increased, and the weight thereof was increased. Power consumption was also large.

In addition, in the conventional devices, the number of racks or other setting devices and the number of printing devices are limited by the four setting mechanism, and the change of the charge beyond that digit is not possible. There wasn't.

[0014]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention adopts a rack and pinion mechanism that is simple and has few troubles, substantially eliminating the need for a link mechanism. In addition, a separate drive source and its transmission mechanism are provided so that the tracking device and the print drum can be driven independently. Further, the numerical value changing mechanism is composed of a cooperating printing wheel and a rack, a single pinion that adjusts the printing wheel through the rack, and a mechanism that rotates the pinion with respect to each rack, and is complicated. The planetary mechanism to operate is unnecessary.

Further, in the present invention, by arranging at least four or more printing wheels and racks around the drum, it is possible to print at least four digits or more. This is because the plurality of printing wheels and the rack are driven by a single pinion, and the pinion and the drum can be driven by separate driving means.

[0016]

[Action]

 The postage meter of the present invention has solved the problems associated with the conventional link mechanism by adopting a rack and pinion mechanism that is simple and has few failures. In addition, the pursuit work has been simplified by adopting individual drive sources that can independently drive the pursuit device and the printing drum and its transmission mechanism. In addition, by rotating one pinion in the drum to mesh with a plurality of racks, and then rotating the pinion by a predetermined number, the rack and pinion mechanism can be easily adjusted. With the adoption, it is possible to provide a simple, lightweight and inexpensive postage meter.

Further, since the inside of the printing drum has a simple rack and pinion structure, it is possible to easily provide at least four or more printing wheels / rack mechanisms in the drum, which makes it possible to provide four or more digits if desired. Printing can now be done easily.

[0018]

【Example】

 Referring to the drawings, and in particular FIG. 1, there is shown a postage meter 20 constructed in accordance with the present invention that is removably secured to a base 22. In the front portion between the postage meter or meter 20 and the base 22, there is a gap 24, which receives mail and the like and prints the postage. The postage meter includes a display panel or display 26 (which is preferably an electronic display panel) and a control panel 28. Any suitable electronic control mechanism can be used for the rotary numerical mechanism disclosed herein.

Instrument 20 can be removed from base 22 as disclosed in US Pat. No. 2,934,009. The instrument 20 incorporates a mechanical drive within the base to operate the printing mechanism. Since the instrument 20 and the base 22 can be separated from each other, the instrument can be easily maintained and transported when reloading.

The control panel 28 of the postage meter may be of any suitable type, such as with a numeric or alphabetic display, for example, a conventional composite 7-segment LED or LCD display. In addition, the control panel includes a number setting key 30 and a decimal key 32 for setting the meter to print the amount of postage required, which amount is normally displayed on the display device 26. To be done. The clear key 34 is also equipped, for example, to clear the amount in case of erroneous input. When the displayed amount is set to the required value, the postage setting key 36 is pressed to set the printing mechanism. Printing starts by inserting the envelope or pressing the print key.

The panel further includes a series of keys that can selectively display other numerical values on the display device 26. For example, the content of increasing records, that is, the accumulated postage used by the meter, the content of decreasing records, that is, the remaining postage that the meter is still filling, and other necessary information. It is possible to prepare for display. In addition, the service key (not shown) behind the instrument is used when used for diagnostics on the instrument key and other service functions. The instrument can also be reset from a remote location, as discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,923. These features are found in detail in US Pat. No. 4,301,507, as referenced below.

The printer or printing mechanism 38 includes a print drum 202 (FIG. 3) mounted in the instrument 20 at the top of the gap 24, around which the selected print element 209 projects. Has an opening for To print the selected print number on the envelope, the drum rotates and presses the print element against the envelope in frictional contact with the drum through gap 24. A print element 209 is suitably provided around the series of print wheels 208 to rotationally align therewith an element having a numerical value selected to print at the aperture.

The setting or adjustment of the print wheel is performed by the setting mechanism. This setting mechanism is controlled by an appropriate control device such as an electronic control device shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,978,457 and 4,301,507, based on a predetermined print value input to the control panel 28.

In this embodiment, the right side of the print drum 202 is supported by the shaft 207. On the other hand, the left side is closed. The shaft 207 is rotatably supported by a bearing 203 in the instrument body 206. The print wheel 208 is rotationally adjusted about an axis 211 supported on the print drum 202 and the selected print element 209 is drummed by a setting mechanism including a rotary numerical selection device 204 as shown in FIG. Exposed on the surface of. Here, the apparatus 204 includes a series of linear rack gears 210 (shown in FIG. 3) that move axially to effect rotation of the print wheel via a suitable connecting member, such as a spur gear 212 supported on the shaft 211. Only one is shown). Each print wheel 208 is provided with one rack 210 so that the number of racks is equal to the number of print wheels and each rack is connected to a different print wheel. The rack 210 is slidably attached to the drum 202 along, for example, a pin guide 219 (FIG. 5) extending in the longitudinal direction of the drum provided in the drum 202, and has an arc shape or a part around the rack moving device. They are arranged side by side in a ring shape (see Fig. 5). The rack moving device comprises a pinion 214 which is capable of following from rack to rack and is driven by a drive worm 216.

The worm gear 216 is attached to one end of a shaft 218 arranged concentrically inside a tubular shaft 220 supported by a bearing 222. The shaft 220 supports the pinion 214 by a shaft 213 attached near one end of the shaft 220, and is supported by a bearing 224 in the print drum shaft 207.

Similar gears 226, 228, 230 are provided at the ends of the shafts 218, 220, 207, respectively, and these gears are arranged side by side, and the corresponding drive motors or step motors M ₁ , M ₂ , Driven by M ₃ . The drive shafts of the motors M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₃ fixed in the base 22 are connected to the respective gears 226, 228, 230 via drive gears 232, 234, 236 on the corresponding drive shafts. ..

When operating, the motors M ₁ and M ₂ are operated in synchronization, and the gears 226 and 228 are driven in synchronism with each other to rotate the worm 216 and the pinion 214 as a unit, and to rotate the pinion 214. Move from one rack 214 to its adjacent rack. When the rack 210 is moved, only the motor M ₁ is operated and only the gear 226 is driven. This causes the pinion 214 to rotate while engaging the rack to adjust the print wheel. When printing is performed by rotating the print drum, all three motors are operated in synchronization so that the rack does not interfere with the rotation of the print drum, and the drum 202, worm 216, and pinion 214 are operated. Rotate as a unit, thereby rotating a rack displacement pinion fixed relative to the drum.

Prior to the printing process, the pinion 214 is preferably moved to an inactive position that does not engage any rack. By rotating the pinion 214 counterclockwise or clockwise, the rack moves forward (to the left in FIG. 3), the printing value of the set print wheel 208 increases, and the rack moves backward (first time). 3) (to the right in Fig. 3) and decrease the print value.

Throughout the operation of the selector device 204, the positions of the rack 210 and the pinion 214 are more suitable for the two gap encoder disks and suitable devices such as the optical sensor device used herein. To be monitored electronically.

The feature of the embodiment of the present invention is that the motors M ₁ , M ₂ , and M ₃ and the driving devices for the selecting device and the drum are housed in the base 22, and the selecting device itself and the drum itself are That is, it is installed in the instrument 20 that can be detached from the base. There are gears 226, 228, 230 between the base and the instrument. This arrangement is shown schematically in FIG. 2, in which a keyboard 28, a rotary numerical selection device 50, a printing mechanism 38 are arranged in the instrument 20, while a control device 29, a drive motor M, a mechanical drive. The devices are all arranged in the base 22.

The operation of the above-mentioned postage meter for performing complete numerical value selection and printing process will be described. Assume all instrument components are in their basic position, print wheels are all set to zero and pinions are not engaged in all racks. Illustratively, assume that you set the postage to $ 23.65. For illustration purposes, it is assumed that the illustrated selector device has five racks 210a through 210e, each associated with a respective print wheel 208. In the following description, racks 210a and 210b display units of $ 10 and $ 1, respectively, and racks 210c and 210d display units of 10 cents and 1 cent, respectively. The dollar sign and the decimal point are permanently located in the window in the drum where the matching element is exposed. Rack 210e displays additional information that needs to be changed, such as date.

At the start of the stroke, it is assumed that the pinion 214 is arranged so as to be located between its basic positions, that is, the racks 210a and 210e, and the value of the print wheel 208 is “$ 0.000”. The print position is switched on and the user uses the numeric keypad 30 to punch a number of $ 23.65 into the keyboard 28. When a numerical value is input and the display device 26 changes, the setting key 36 is pressed. As a result, the numerical selection process is executed. The signal indicating a few dollars is processed by the CPU of the control unit, the signal is sent to the step motors M ₁ and M ₂ , and the numerical selection is performed in the manner described below with the feedback from the encoder (not shown). To be done.

First, the stepper motors M ₁ and M ₂ are actuated to drive the drive gears 226 and 228 in synchronism to accurately rotate the shafts 218 and 220 to engage the pinion 214 with the rack 210 a, and then Step motors M ₁ and M ₂ are stopped.

The stepper motor M ₁ operates again, drives the shaft 218, rotates the worm 216, rotates the pinion 214 counterclockwise, and replaces the rack 210a to the left as shown in FIG. The print element "2" is placed at the print wheel 208 in the print window of the drum.

In the next operation, the pinion 214 operates to replace the next rack 210b. At the end of this, drive motors M ₁ and M ₂ are again activated to drive drive shafts 218 and 220 in synchronism, causing pinion 214 to track rack 210b and then stop. The stepper motor M ₁ is activated again to rotate the pinion 214 counterclockwise to position the "3" print element on the print wheel 208 in the print window of the drum. The pinion then rotates to engage the rack 210c connected to the "10 cents" print wheel, and the pinion 214 rotates until it exposes the number "6" in the print window.

The pinion 214 then moves to the rack 210d and positions the print wheel number "5" in "cents" in the print window in the same manner as described above.

Now that the pinion 214 has moved to the rack 210e, and assuming this is today's first operation, a new date has been entered on the keyboard 28 and the pinion 214 will rotate to properly position the rack 210e. In a more flexible way, two or more racks may be used for data information.

The pinion 214 now returns to its basic position between the racks 210a and 210e.

In response to the insertion of a mail item or the pressing of the print key according to the selection of numerical values, the three motors M ₁ , M ₂ and M ₃ are simultaneously operated and synchronized, and the drum and the selection device as a unit. The printing process is executed by rotating. The drum rolls once to face the selected print element against the mail in the gap 24 and print a few dollars on the mail. The instrument is now ready to accept the next few dollars by actuating the setting key 30.

In this figure, assume that the next few dollars are 45 cents. To set the print wheel to this amount, the rotary selector is operated in the manner described above to perform the subsequent actions. The pinion 214 first engages the rack 210a and returns the print wheel labeled "$ 10" to zero. While replacing the rack, the shaft 218 rotates to rotate the pinion 214 clockwise and retract the rack 210a (to the right in FIG. 3). The pinion 214 now tracks the rack 210b and returns the print wheels to zero in the manner described above. The pinion 214 then tracks the rack 210c, retracts this rack and rotates it to display the number "4" on the print wheel 208. The pinion 214 then retracts back to the home position via the "cent unit" 210c and the date rack 210d. However, since these numbers are unchanged, the pinion 214 does not affect these racks in any way. Following this, three motors M _1, M _2, M ₃ is again actuated simultaneously, it causes the rotation of its printing stroke by driving moving the printing drum.

It will be appreciated through the various choices and printing strokes that the angular positioning of the axes 207, 218, 220 and the linear position of the rack 210 are always monitored by the feedback sensor. This sensor continuously delivers shaft movement to a selector connected to the input port of the selector in a manner as described in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,987,457.

In summary, rack selection is performed by rotating axes 218 and 220 together to track pinion 214 from rack to rack, and rack replacement is the only axis 218 that has pinion 214. It will be appreciated that rotating on shaft 213 and the printing process is carried out by simultaneously rotating shafts 218, 220, 207 to rotate the drum integrally with the selection device fixed with printing element 209.

In a modification of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the pinion 214 is fixed so that it does not rotate around the drum axis during numerical selection, and rack selection is such that the pinion 214 tracks the rack 210. Executed by. Thus, in this embodiment, shafts 220 and 218 are fixed so that they do not rotate during rack selection, and the rack is moved by gear 230 by small angular movements of drum 202. Thus, for rack selection, only motor M ₃ is activated to drive the drum through gear 230, and for rack replacement only motor M ₂ is passed through gear 2 26 and wormed. 216 to actuate. During the printing process, the three motors M ₁ , M ₂ and M ₃ are simultaneously operated to drive the three gears 226, 228 and 230, thereby driving the drum and the numerical value selecting device as one unit.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment. This is similar to that illustrated in Figure 3 and the same reference numbers are used for similar parts. In this embodiment, the bearing configurations of shafts 218 and 220 vary with worm 216 and pinion 214 mounted intermediate the respective ends of shafts 218 and 220.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 has been modified as the method of FIG. 3 to improve the rack selection method by moving the rack with respect to the rack replacement pinion.

While various embodiments have been described, modifications and changes can be made in details without departing from the scope of the invention.

The drive motor is preferably a stepper motor or other suitable motor such as a DC motor.

The postage meter described herein is an inking device for the printing element, a sticker adapted to receive printing for use when the mailpiece is too bulky to be inserted into the gap 24. It can be integrated with various ancillary devices such as devices that issue labels. In addition, a lockdown mechanism is provided to secure the instrument to the base in order to prevent the instrument from being removed from the base or opened in case of equipment failure. The lock-down lever has a standard and can be commercially available, and the postage meter is driven by a proper method such as by a motor in case of equipment failure.

Although the present invention is disclosed with respect to a postage meter, other types of meters and devices may have equivalent value. Other instruments include such things as parcel service equipment, stamping equipment and check issuing equipment.

The details described herein concentrate on postage meters and their operation relating to the basic improvements of the prior art. The view of the postage meter described in a general way is that of a known conventional structure.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention are only schematic, and modifications thereof are possible by a person skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but rather as set forth in the claims.

[0052]

【The invention's effect】

 The present invention includes several advantages over prior art devices. The number of racks or other setting devices, and thus the number of printing devices, is not restricted by the setting mechanism. In previous schemes, a relatively low number of racks, for example four setting racks, were used to vary the four digit postage ($ 0.000).

The present invention allows a higher number of setting devices. This allows for additional modifiable information, such as dates, logos, cities, etc., to be posted on postage stamps that are quick and easily modifiable. In addition, it is possible to set numerical values relatively quickly, and it is possible to achieve a comparatively lightweight and small numerical selection mechanism. In this arrangement, the number of parts can be greatly reduced compared to prior art devices, thereby achieving cost savings.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a simplified diagram of a postage meter integrated with a device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the relationship between elements of a postage meter,

FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of the rotary printing numerical value selection device of the postage meter shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view in the axial direction of another embodiment of the rotary printing numerical value selection device,

5 is a view on arrow VV of FIG. 3. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Postage meter 22 Base 24 Gap 26 Display panel 28 Control 29 Control device 30 Key 32 Decimal point key 36 Postage key 42 Printing wheel 50 Rotation value selection device 102 Optical sensor 202 Printing drum 203 Bearing 204 Rotation value selection device 207 Printing Drum shaft 208 Printing wheel 209 Printing element 210 Linear rack gear 210a Rack 210b Rack 210c Rack 210d Rack 210e Rack 212 Spur gear 214 Pinion 216 Worm drive 218 Shaft 220 Tubular shaft 222 Bearing 224 Bearing 226 Gear 228 Gear 230 Gear 232 Drive gear 234 Gear 236 drive gear

Claims (1)

[Claims for utility model registration] [Claim 1] In a postage meter for printing a selected amount of money on a print receiving surface, a print drum 202 and a plurality of at least four or more attached to the print drum 202 are provided. A plurality of numeric printing wheels 208 each having a plurality of numeric printing elements 209 and selectively movable to align each selected numeric printing element 209; Drive units 230, 236, M ₃ for driving the print drum 202 to move the selected numerical printing element 209 through the print position to form a print on the print receiving surface.
And arranged in the print drum as a group to adjust the numerical printing wheels 208.
A plurality of axially movable racks 210 that are connected to each other, and one rack at a time for driving the racks 210 and adjusting the numerical printing wheels 208 that cooperate with the racks; A single engageable rack replacement pinion means 214, the plurality of racks 210 arranged annularly around the rack replacement pinion means 214, and the rack replacement pinion means 214 for each rack 210 selectively. Rack replacement pinion means moving devices 216, 218, 220 for moving the rack replacement pinion means 214 from rack to rack for engagement, and the rack replacement pinion means and the rack replacement pinion means moving device are independently driven. Drive device 226,2
A postage meter including 28, 232, 234, M ₁ and M ₂ .