Automatic document handling ejection apparatus

Claim 2

In a document handling a printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly adapted to cooperate with ejection drive means to eject the document quickly and accurately from the printing station comprising: a fraMe defining guideways; a slide member slidably engaged with said guideways for sliding movement along said guideways; a plurality of pressure rollers; suspension mounting means for mounting said pressure rollers on said slide member; said slide member being movable along said guideways from an initial position to an ejection position, in said initial position said pressure rollers being spaced from said ejection drive means for receiving a document to be printed in said printing station with the document located between said ejection drive means and said pressure rollers and in said ejection position said pressure rollers being near said ejection drive means for pressing the document against said ejection drive means to eject the document from said printing station; a quick-action linkage for moving said slide member from its initial position to its ejection position, said linkage including a spring lever; a main pivot pivotally mounting said spring lever on said frame; said spring lever having a main arm initially extending generally at right angles to said slide ways; a connecting link extending between said spring lever and said slide member and being pivotally connected to said main arm and to said slide member; a first spring engaging said spring lever applying force to said spring lever in a direction to urge said slide member to move from said initial to said ejection position; said main arm of said spring lever and said connecting link approaching parallelism with said guideways when said slide member is in its ejection position for multiplying the force of said first spring by toggle action; detent means associated with said linkage; latch means engageable with said detent means for retaining said slide member in its initial position against the force of said first spring; latch spring means urging said latch means into engagement with said detent means; and release means for disengaging said latch means from said detent means.

Claim 3

In a document handling and printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which said suspension mounting means for said pressure rollers is a suspension arm extending in a direction generally perpendicular to said guideways; a pivot connecting the central portion of said suspension arm to the end of said slide member nearest said ejection drive means; one of said pressure rollers being mounted on each end of said suspension arm; and said slide member and suspension arm being arranged to allow limited swinging movement of said suspension arm about said pivot for equalizing the pressure of said pressure rollers against the document being ejected.

Claim 4

In a document handling and printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the one of said pressure roller which is in the trailing position with respect to the direction of ejection of a document is tapered for aiding in steering the document along the desired ejection path.

Claim 5

In a document handling and printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which said detent means is a notch in said slide member and said latch means is a latch lever pivotally mounted upon said frame having a nose portion adapted to engage in said notch, said latch spring means urging the nose portion of said latch lever toward engagement with said notch.

Claim 6

In a document handling and printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which said release means includes a release arm pivotally mounted upon said frame for arcuate movement; a deflectable spring arm secured to said release arm, said deflectable spring arm being stiff in the plane of arcuate movement of said release arm and normally extending into operative relationship with said latch lever; a trip element engageable with said release arm for swinging said release arm to bring said spring arm into engagement with said latch lever to release said latch Lever; and said spring arm being deflectable out of said plane for rendering said deflectable spring arm inoperative.

Claim 7

In a postage meter and printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly and ejection drive means to eject the document quickly and accurately from the printing station comprising: a document supporting deck for receiving the letter to be printed and having a plurality of access openings therein; ejection drive means positioned beneath said deck, said ejection drive means including a plurality of ejection rollers projecting up into said access openings; a frame defining guideways extending toward said deck; a slide member slidably engaged with said guideways for sliding movement along said guideways; a plurality of pressure rollers; suspension mounting means for mounting said pressure rollers on said slide member in opposed relationship with said ejection rollers; said slide member being movable along said guideways from an initial position to an ejection position, in said initial position said pressure rollers being spaced above said deck away from said ejection rollers and in said ejection position said pressure rollers being down adjacent to said ejection rollers for pressing the letter against said ejection rollers to eject the letter from said deck; a quick-action linkage for moving said slide member from its initial position to its ejection position, said linkage including a spring lever; a main pivot pivotally mounting said spring lever on said frame; a connecting link extending between and being pivotally connected to said spring lever and said slide member; a first spring engaging said spring lever applying force to said spring lever in a direction to urge said slide member to move from said initial to said ejection position; detent means associated with said linkage; latch means engageable with said detent means for retaining said slide member in its initial position against the force of said first spring; latch spring means urging said latch means into engagement with said detent means; release means for disengaging said latch means from said detent means; a recocking plunger included in said ejection drive means, said plunger normally being retracted below said deck in alignment with one of said access openings; and plunger drive means for raising said plunger into engagement with said slide member for returning said slide member to its initial position.

Claim 8

In a postage meter and printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly and ejection drive means to eject the document quickly and accurately from the printing station comprising: a document supporting deck for receiving the letter to be printed and having a plurality of access openings therein; ejection drive means positioned beneath said deck, said ejection drive means including a plurality of ejection rollers projecting up into said access openings; a frame defining guideways extending toward said deck; a slide member slidably engaged with said guideways for sliding movement along said guideways; a plurality of pressure rollers; suspension mounting means for mounting said pressure rollers on said slide member in opposed relationship with said ejection rollers; said slide member being movable along said guideways from an initial position to an ejection position, in said initial position said pressure rollers being spaced above said deck away from said ejection rollers and in said ejection position said pressure rollers being down adjacent to said ejection rollers for pressing the letter against said ejection rollers to eject the letter from said deck; a quick-action linkage for moving said slide member from its initial position to its ejection position, said linkage including a spring lever; a main pivot pivotally mounting said spring lever on said frame; a connecting link extending between and being pivotally connected to said spring lever and said slide member; a first spring engaging said spring lever applying force to said spring lever in a direction to urge said slide member to move from said initial to said ejection position; detent means associated with said linkage; latch means engageable with said detent means for retaining said slide member in its initial position against the force of said first spring; latch spring means urging said latch means into engagement with said detent means; release means for disengaging said latch means from said detent means; a recocking plunger included in said ejection drive means, said plunger normally being retracted below said deck in alignment with one of said access openings; and plunger drive means for raising said plunger into engagement with said slide member for returning said slide member to its initial position.

Claim 9

In a postage meter printing machine an ejection pressure roller assembly and ejection drive means as claimed in claim 6, in which said plunger drive means includes a cam driven by said ejection drive means; and a lever system operated by said cam for raising said plunger after said ejection rollers have been rotated by said ejection drive means, thereby raising said slide member back to its initial position at the conclusion of the ejection cycle.

Claim 10

In a document handling and printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly comprising: a frame member defining guideways; a slide member slidable along said guideways between an initial position and an ejection position; a plurality of pressure rollers; suspension mounting means for mounting said pressure rollers on said slide member; a main lever; a main pivot pivotally mounting said main lever on said frame; a connecting link extending between said main lever and said slide member and being pivotally connected to said main lever and slide member; a main spring connected between said frame and said main lever for urging said slide member to move toward said ejection position; a pivoted latch lever for latching said slide member in its initial position, said latch lever having an actuating arm; a latch lever spring urging said latch toward latching engagement with said slide member; said frame including a rearwardly extending portion; a release lever pivotally mounted on said rearwaRdly extending frame portion; said release lever having a first arm extending adjacent to said actuating arm; spring means urging said first arm away from said actuating arm; and a trip element for overcoming said spring means to bring said first arm into engagement with said actuating arm for unlatching said latch lever.

Claim 11

In a document handling and printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly comprising: a frame member defining guideways; a slide member slidable along said guideways between an initial position and an ejection position; a plurality of pressure rollers; suspension mounting means for mounting said pressure rollers on said slide member; a main lever; a main pivot pivotally mounting said main lever on said frame; a connecting link extending between said main lever and said slide member and being pivotally connected to said main lever and slide member; a main spring connected between said frame and said main lever for urging said slide member to move toward said ejection position; a pivoted latch lever for latching said slide member in its initial position, said latch lever having an actuating arm; a latch lever spring urging said latch toward latching engagement with said slide member; said frame including a rearwardly extending portion; a release lever pivotally mounted on said rearwaRdly extending frame portion; said release lever having a first arm extending adjacent to said actuating arm; spring means urging said first arm away from said actuating arm; and a trip element for overcoming said spring means to bring said first arm into engagement with said actuating arm for unlatching said latch lever.

Claim 12

In a document handling and printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly as claimed in claim 8, in which said slide member has an abutment surface thereon, a plunger engageable with said abutment surface, and plunger drive means for moving said plunger into engagement with said abutment surface to return the slide member to its initial position at the conclusion of the ejection of a document from the machine.

Claim 13

In a document handling and printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly as claimed in claim 8, in which a second arm is mounted on said release lever, said second arm having a sloping camming surface thereon.

Claim 14

In a document handling and printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly as claimed in claim 10, in which said release lever includes means for adjusting the angle between said first and second arms.

Claim 15

In a document handling and printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly as claimed in claim 10, in which said first arm is a flat spring which is stiff in the plane of movement of said release lever, said first arm being deflectable out of said plane for placing said first arm in inoperative relationship with respect to said actuating arm.

Claim 16

In a document handling and printing machine, an ejection pressure roller assembly as claimed in claim 10, in which there is a trip element movable along a line engaging the sloping surface on said release lever to move said release lever to bring said first arm into engagement with said actuating arm for unlatching said latch lever.

Claim 17

In a postage meter and printing machine, apparatus for automatically handling the letter to be printed with respect to a printing station within the machine and for automatically ejecting the letter along a path from the machine, said apparatus comprising: a supporting deck for receiving the letter thereon to be printed at a printing station; ejection means for ejecting the letter from said printing station; a frame defining guideways directed toward said ejection means; a slide member movable along said guideways; a plurality of pressure rollers mounted on mounting means; a pivot connection pivotally connecting said mounting means to said slide member; said slide member being movable along said guideways from an initial position to an ejection position, in said initial position of said slide member said pressure rollers being spaced from said ejection means for receiving a letter to be printed on said supporting deck between said ejection means and said pressure rollers, and in said ejection position of said slide member said pressure rollers being displaced toward said ejection means for pressing against the letter to be ejected; said pivot connection between said mounting means and said slide member permitting said mounting means to pivot relative to said slide member so that said pressure rollers can press simultaneously against the letter to be ejected; a main spring urging said slide member to move from its initial to its ejection position; latch means engageable with said slide member for holding said slide member in its initial position; and release means for releasing said latch means from said slide member.

Claim 18

In a postage meter and printing machine, apparatus for automatically handling the letter to be printed with respect to a printing station within the machine and for automatically ejecting the letter along a path from the machine, said apparatus comprising: a supporting deck for receiving the letter thereon to be printed at a printing station; ejection means for ejecting the letter from said printing station; a frame defining guideways directed toward said ejection means; a slide member movable along said guideways; a plurality of pressure rollers mounted on mounting means; a pivot connection pivotally connecting said mounting means to said slide member; said slide member being movable along said guideways from an initial position to an ejection position, in said initial position of said slide member said pressure rollers being spaced from said ejection means for receiving a letter to be printed on said supporting deck between said ejection means and said pressure rollers, and in said ejection position of said slide member said pressure rollers being displaced toward said ejection means for pressing against the letter to be ejected; said pivot connection between said mounting means and said slide member permitting said mounting means to pivot relative to said slide member so that said pressure rollers can press simultaneously against the letter to be ejected; a main spring urging said slide member to move from its initial to its ejection position; latch means engageable with said slide member for holding said slide member in its initial position; and release means for releasing said latch means from said slide member.

Claim 19

In a postage meter and printing machine, apparatus for automatically handling the letter to be printed as claimed in claim 14, including a stripper member movably mounted above said supporting deck and spaced therefrom; a letter fence stop pivotally mounted upon said stripper member; first spring means normally urging said letter fence stop down into location near said deck to be struck by the leadinG end of a letter inserted upon said deck to position the letter to be printed at the printing station; a prop lever having a pivot mounting below said deck, the axis of said pivot mounting extending transversely with respect to the path of ejection of the letter from the machine; second spring means urging said prop lever to swing upwardly above said deck; said stripper member being movable upwardly and raising said letter fence stop into an elevated position temporarily away from said deck, thereby allowing said prop lever to swing upwardly above said deck to engage said letter fence stop in its elevated position to temporarily hold it in said elevated position.

Claim 20

In a postage meter and printing machine, apparatus for automatically handling the letter to be printed as claimed in claim 15, in which said second spring means exerts only a light force on said prop lever and in which said prop lever when holding said letter fence stop in said elevated position is in the path of ejection of the letter, said light force being such that the leading end of the letter as it is being ejected can depress said prop lever, thereby releasing said letter fence stop to return toward said deck after the leading end of the letter has passed thereby.

Claim 21

In a postage meter and printing machine, apparatus for automatically handling the letter to be printed as claimed in claim 16, in which said letter fence stop has a projecting ledge normally resting upon said prop lever when said letter fence stop is in its normal position near said deck in position to be struck by the leading end of a letter being inserted into the machine.