Parcel postage metering system

Claim 1

Apparatus for positioning the various postage digit selector arms of a postage meter to postage digit positions according to the corresponding postage digits of a postage value held in an output register of a postage metering system, said apparatus comprising, in combination: A. units digit, tenths digit and hundredths digit clutches, each having input and output shafts; B. a motor continuously drivingly rotating said clutch input shafts during a positioning cycle; C. links interconnecting the respective output shafts of said clutches to the units, tenths, and hundredths postage digit selector arms of the postage meter, whereby to reciprocate the various postage digit selector arms through their various digit positions so long as their respective clutches are engaged; D. separate position encoders coupled to each said clutch output shaft for providing digital readouts of the absolute digit positions of the associated postage meter digit selector arms as they are moved through their various digit positions; E. separate comparator means for continuously comparing the digital readouts of the postage digit positions of the various postage digit selector arms with the corresponding postage digit held in the output register, and, as comparisons are achieved, electrically signalling the appropriate clutches to disengage their input shafts from their output shafts, whereby to stop the various postage digit selector arms at the postage digit position called for by the corresponding postage digits held in the output register; and F. gating means electrically connected to each said comparator means for signalling the postage meter to execute a print cycle upon disengagement of all of said clutches.