US3890491A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arithmetic unit for a postage meter
Assignee: A J M RES CORP
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Filing: 1974-04-03
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1994-04-03
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to an arithmetic unit for a postage meter in which the arithmetic and printing mechanism, commonly called ''''the meter'''', is removably attached to a heavy base by easily removable means, so that the arithmetic printing unit may be readily separated therefrom and taken to a Post Office for resetting. The mechanism of the present invention comprises a hollow cylindrical drive shaft on which is mounted a single Thomas-type mutilated drum actuator; driven gears slidably, but non-rotatably mounted on register drive shafts that are arranged on a concentric arc around the actuator; preferably a second Thomas-type mutilated drum actuator driven from said drive shaft; a second plurality of driven gears mounted on register drive shafts which are concentrically arranged in an arc around said second actuator; a descending register driven from one of said actuators and its associated driven gears and register drive shafts; ascending register driven by said second actuator and its associated driven gears and register drive shafts; a manually operated and ordinally arranged selection mechanism to simultaneously set into each of the orders of the registers driven by said register drive shafts, the value of the stamp to be impressed upon the mail matter; and a postage printing mechanism set by said manually operable selection mechanism and driven by the drive shaft. Preferably, the means for setting the printing mechanism comprises a set of first selection bars in the interior of said hollow drive shaft and set by the manually operated selection mechanism, and a set of second longitudinal, or axial, members resting on the exterior of said drive shaft and operable to set the printing mechanism; and means for interconnecting the interior and exterior longitudinally movable members.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur J Malavazos
- 👤 Administrator By Gre Malavazos
- 👤 Jan Urdal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:19
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00193; G07B2017/00233; G07B2017/00241; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; G07B2017/00516; G07B2017/00524; G07B2017/00548
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
An arithmetic and printing unit for a postage meter comprising: 1. a cylindrical hollow main drive shaft; 2. means for mounting said drive shaft for rotatiOn; 3. means for cyclically rotating said drive shaft; 4. an ascending register and a descending register; 5. a print head mounted on said drive shaft; 6. a manually operative selection mechanism for selecting values to be registered in said registers and in said print head; 7. a mutilated drum actuator for one of said registers mounted on said drive shaft; 8. means controlled by said selection mechanism for operating one of said registers from said actuator differentially from the value set in said selection mechanism; 9. a second mutilated drum actuator; 10. means driven by said main drive shaft for driving said second mutilated drum actuator; 11. means controlled by said selection mechanism for registering a value in said second register from the operation of said second actuator; 12. value stamping members for printing a stamp value on mail matter positionably mounted within said print head; and 13. means controlled by said selection mechanism for positioning said stamping members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
An arithmetic and printing unit for a postage meter comprising: 1. a cylindrical hollow main drive shaft; 2. means for mounting said drive shaft for rotatiOn; 3. means for cyclically rotating said drive shaft; 4. an ascending register and a descending register; 5. a print head mounted on said drive shaft; 6. a manually operative selection mechanism for selecting values to be registered in said registers and in said print head; 7. a mutilated drum actuator for one of said registers mounted on said drive shaft; 8. means controlled by said selection mechanism for operating one of said registers from said actuator differentially from the value set in said selection mechanism; 9. a second mutilated drum actuator; 10. means driven by said main drive shaft for driving said second mutilated drum actuator; 11. means controlled by said selection mechanism for registering a value in said second register from the operation of said second actuator; 12. value stamping members for printing a stamp value on mail matter positionably mounted within said print head; and 13. means controlled by said selection mechanism for positioning said stamping members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
8 words
means for mounting said drive shaft for rotatiOn;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
8 words
means for mounting said drive shaft for rotatiOn;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
9-tooth selection gears slidably but non-rotatably mounted on some of said shafts;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
9-tooth selection gears slidably but non-rotatably mounted on some of said shafts;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 1 comprising also means for locking said value stamping members and said selection mechanism against adjustment during an initial portion of a cycle of rotation of said drive shaft, said means comprising: a. an arm pivotally mounted on said print head; b. locking means on said arm for engaging the exterior bars; and c. means operated during an initial portion of a cycle of operation of said drive shaft for operating said arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
9 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said registers comprise:
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
a tens-transfer gear slidably but non-rotatably mounted on each of said shafts;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
a tens-transfer gear slidably but non-rotatably mounted on each of said shafts;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
7 words
means for cyclically rotating said drive shaft;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
7 words
means for cyclically rotating said drive shaft;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
7 words
an ascending register and a descending register;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
7 words
an ascending register and a descending register;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
8 words
a 9-tooth gear rigidly mounted on said shaft;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
8 words
a 9-tooth gear rigidly mounted on said shaft;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
9 words
a 40-tooth gear meshing with said last mentioned gear;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
9 words
a 40-tooth gear meshing with said last mentioned gear;
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
8 words
a print head mounted on said drive shaft;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
8 words
a print head mounted on said drive shaft;
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
a manually operative selection mechanism for selecting values to be registered in said registers and in said print head;
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
a manually operative selection mechanism for selecting values to be registered in said registers and in said print head;
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
8 words
a 20-tooth gear meshing with said 40-tooth gear;
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
8 words
a 20-tooth gear meshing with said 40-tooth gear;
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
8 words
a 10-tooth gear meshing with said 20-tooth gear;
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
8 words
a 10-tooth gear meshing with said 20-tooth gear;
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
a mutilated drum actuator for one of said registers mounted on said drive shaft;
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
a mutilated drum actuator for one of said registers mounted on said drive shaft;
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
means controlled by said selection mechanism for operating one of said registers from said actuator differentially from the value set in said selection mechanism;
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
means controlled by said selection mechanism for operating one of said registers from said actuator differentially from the value set in said selection mechanism;
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
8 words
a dial rigidly mounted on said 10-tooth gear;
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
8 words
a dial rigidly mounted on said 10-tooth gear;
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
a 4-tooth gear and a Geneva wheel mounted on said 40-tooth gear;
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
a 4-tooth gear and a Geneva wheel mounted on said 40-tooth gear;
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
5 words
a second mutilated drum actuator;
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
5 words
a second mutilated drum actuator;
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
means driven by said main drive shaft for driving said second mutilated drum actuator;
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
means driven by said main drive shaft for driving said second mutilated drum actuator;
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
a 9-tooth gear and a Geneva wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft and registering with said 4-tooth gear and said Geneva, respectively;
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
a 9-tooth gear and a Geneva wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft and registering with said 4-tooth gear and said Geneva, respectively;
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
9 words
projecting cam faces in said last-mentioned gear and Geneva;
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
9 words
projecting cam faces in said last-mentioned gear and Geneva;
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
means controlled by said selection mechanism for registering a value in said second register from the operation of said second actuator;
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
means controlled by said selection mechanism for registering a value in said second register from the operation of said second actuator;
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
value stamping members for printing a stamp value on mail matter positionably mounted within said print head; and
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
value stamping members for printing a stamp value on mail matter positionably mounted within said print head; and
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
10 words
a cam follower moved longitudinally by said cam projections; and
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
10 words
a cam follower moved longitudinally by said cam projections; and
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
26 words
means moved by said cam follower for moving said tens-transfer gear of the adjacent higher order into alignment with the single tens-transfer tooth on said actuator.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
26 words
means moved by said cam follower for moving said tens-transfer gear of the adjacent higher order into alignment with the single tens-transfer tooth on said actuator.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
11 words
means controlled by said selection mechanism for positioning said stamping members.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
11 words
means controlled by said selection mechanism for positioning said stamping members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |