Postage meter with improved printing slot

• US 7,437,993 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Kulpa, Walter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Colilla; Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANH, DAVID H
• Application Number:
  US11/234,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20070068401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 101/91
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• 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 2017/00516 Details of printing apparatus

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A postage meter comprising:

a slot to receive insertion of an envelope;

a registration plate defining a top side of the slot, the registration plate having a window formed therein, the registration plate for defining a printing location for a top surface of the envelope;

a print head mounted above the registration plate for printing a postage indicium on the top surface of the envelope; and

a spring-loaded platform having a top platform surface for pressing the envelope against the registration plate with a first force applied by the top platform surface, the spring-loaded platform top surface having a recess therein facing and substantially opposing at least a first portion of said window,

said recess having a depth of at least about 5 mm and said recess including a biasing mechanism for pressing the envelope toward the window with a second force applied by the biasing mechanism, wherein

the first force is greater than the second force.

2. The postage meter according to claim 1, further comprising:

the biasing mechanism comprises a cantilever spring positioned between said window and said recess for applying an upward force to the envelope.

3. The postage meter according to claim 2, wherein a lower edge of the cantilever spring is secured to a floor of said recess.

4. The postage meter according to claim 3, wherein the cantilever spring is a metal sheet.

5. The postage meter according to claim 4, wherein the cantilever spring is formed of stainless steel.

6. The postage meter according to claim 2, further comprising:

a switch adjacent the slot for being contacted by the envelope to actuate the print head; and

a ramp at an end of the recess to guide the envelope to the switch.

7. The postage meter according to claim 2, wherein the cantilever spring has a length extent that is substantially equal to a length extent of said spring- loaded platform.

8. The postage meter according to claim 1, wherein the print head is an ink jet print head.

9. A postage meter comprising:

a slot to receive insertion of an envelope;

a registration plate defining a top side of the slot, the registration plate having a window formed therein, the registration plate for defining a printing location for a top surface of the envelope;

a print head mounted above the registration plate for printing a postage indicium on the top surface of the envelope;

a spring-loaded platform for contacting a bottom surface of the envelope and for pressing the envelope against the registration plate, wherein the spring-loaded platform does not contact at least a portion of the bottom surface of the envelope facing the window; and

a cantilever spring at least partially in said slot for applying an upward force to at least a portion of the bottom surface of said envelope.

10. The postage meter according to claim 9, wherein a lower edge of the cantilever spring is secured to the spring loaded platform.

11. The postage meter according to claim 10, wherein the lower edge of the cantilever spring is secured to the spring-loaded platform at a floor of a recess formed in the spring-loaded platform.

12. The postage meter according to claim 11, wherein the recess is at least around 5 mm deep.

13. The postage meter according to claim 11, wherein the cantilever spring is a metal sheet.

14. The postage meter according to claim 13, wherein the cantilever spring is formed of stainless steel.

15. The postage meter according to claim 11, further comprising:

a switch adjacent the slot for being contacted by the envelope to actuate the print head; and

a ramp at an end of the recess to guide the envelope to the switch.

16. The postage meter according to claim 9, wherein the cantilever spring has a length extent that is substantially equal to a length extent of said spring-loaded platform.

17. The postage meter according to claim 9, wherein said print head is an ink jet print head.

18. The postage meter according to claim 9, wherein the upward force applied to the envelope by the cantilever spring is less per area than applied by the spring-loaded platform.

19. The postage meter according to claim 11, wherein the recess is facing and substantially opposing at least a first portion of said window.

20. The postage meter according to claim 11, wherein the recess is facing and substantially opposing at least a first sub-portion of said window toward a trialing edge of said envelope.