Device for triggering a postage meter machine

• US 5,203,263 A
• Filed: 11/04/1991
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ascom Autelca AG (Ascom Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Ascom Autelca AG (Ascom Holding AG)
• Inventors: Berger, Erwin, Grunig, Rudolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Eickholt, Eugene H.
• Application Number:
  US07/793,440
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 101/76, 101/91, 101/232-235, 400/56, 400/642, 400/645, 400/645.4, 271/274, 271/265
• US Class Current: 101/76
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00467 Transporting mailpieces postal sorting B07C
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00661 Sensing or measuring mailpieces weighing G01G19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00564 Ensuring correct position of print on mailpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00604 Printing of advert or logo
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00685 Measuring the dimensions of mailpieces

Abstract

The apparatus comprises two levers (80, 81), which are rotatable around rigid axles (86, 87). Added to this is a third rigid axle (85), which carries the one lower infeed roller (21.2). The upper infeed roller (21.1) is supported at a lever (80) and is springingly pressed against the lower infeed roller (21.2). The apparatus permits letters to be postage metered run in direction of the arrow (52) and thereby press the two infeed rollers (21.1, 21.2) apart from each other up to a maximum width D.

In operation one lever (80) carries a bolt (95) at an arm (94), where the bolt (95) engages into a curved slot (98) of the other lever (81). The bolt (95) freely moves in the curved slot (98) between zero and a with of, for example, 3 mm. In case of a larger width, the bolt (95) impacts at the edge of the slot and presses the other lever (81) in direction of the dashed illustrated deflection position. Other lever (81) has a release hole (99). The release of the postage meter machine occurs by the release fork (22), which is rotatably attached in an elongated hole (99) of the other lever (81). The respective release point in time is shifted based on the deflection of this lever (81), whereby the imprints of the postage meter stamp occurs later in case of thick letter envelopes, as compared to thin letter envelopes. This effects an improvement of the imprint quality on the letter envelopes.

Claims

1. Apparatus for triggering of a postage meter machine (10), comprising

an infeed roller pair (21), where infeed rollers (21.1, 21.2) of the infeed roller pair (21) are spring-loadedly held together, and wherein the rollers (21.1 and 21.2) form a passage for mail pieces (15) of variable thickness, a release trigger (122) actuatable, in each case, by a mail piece (15) for initiating in each case one single rotation of a print rotor (23), and

an adjustment device for a fine adjustment of a release position of the release trigger (122), characterized by a support (62), which supports the release trigger (122) and which is displaceable parallel to a passage path (28) of the mail pieces (15), and

a power connection (50), which connects the infeed roller pair (21) and a support (62) such that the release position of the release trigger (122) is shifted in motion direction of the mail piece (15), if a mutual distance of the infeed rollers (21.1, 21.2) is increased, and where the release position of the release trigger (122) is shifted opposite to said motion direction, if the recited distance is decreased.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the infeed rollers (21.1, 21.2) of the infeed roller pair (21) are disposed vertically on top of each other, wherein the lower infeed roller (21.2) is disposed rigidly, and wherein the upper infeed roller (21.1) is disposed deflectable in an upward direction.

3. Appratus according to claim 1, wherein

the power connection (50) is formed as a Bowden train (66).

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the support (62) is formed as a lever (81), which lever (81) is rotatably supported on a fixedly disposed axle (87) and wherein the lever (81) exhibits a curved slot (98), wherein the power connection (50) comprises a further lever (80), which further lever (80) is rotatably supported at a further fixedly disposed axle (86), wherein the lever (80) supports the upper infeed roller (21.1), wherein the lever (80) is spring-loaded such that the upper infeed roller (21.1) presses elastically against the lower, rigidly supported infeed roller (21.2), and wherein the lever (80) is furnished with an arm (94), which arm (94) carries a bolt (95), and

wherein the bolt (95) engages into the curved slot (98) for the purpose of connecting the two levers (80, 81).

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the curved slot (98) is formed such and directed such that the bolt (95) engages into the curved slot (98) with a slight play, wherein the bolt (95) moves freely in the curved slot (98) in case of a distance of the infeed rollers (21.1, 21.2) between zero and a fixed detent value, and wherein, in case of a distance which surpasses the detent value, the bolt (95) impacts at the wall of the curved slot (98) and presses the lever (81), serving as a support (62), from its rest position.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the lever (81), serving as a support (62), is furnished with an elongated hole (99), which elongated hole (99) serves for a fine adjustment of the release position of the release trigger (122).

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the release trigger (122) includes a rotably suspended, mechanically actuatable release fork (22).

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the release trigger (122) comprises a contactless sensor for delivering an electric release signal.