US3915089A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Movable imprinting deck mechanism
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1974-06-05
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-06-05
Abstract
Abstract A movable imprinting deck mechanism for use in a continuous mail sorting and postage imprinting system which automatically weighs and meters each piece of mail. The system is designed to rapidly handle a large quantity of mixed mail. Mixed mail is continuously and synchronously fed in seriatim along a continuous feed path. Unsealed envelopes have their flaps wetted and sealed. All the envelopes are stopped at a weighing station where they are weighed, and the postage corresponding to their particular weight is computed. The determined postage value is used to continuously reset a postage meter which imprints the required postage upon each envelope as it arrives at a metering station. The imprinting mechanism of the invention insures a uniform printing of postage upon each piece of mail despite its thickness. The metering and weighing functions of the system are synchronized such that the postage meter will imprint the proper postage upon each piece of mail, despite the fact that several envelopes may be simultaneously in transit along the feed path. Overweight pieces of mail are rejected from the feed path prior to their reaching the postage meter station. Metered and overweight pieces of mail are separately stacked.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith E Schubert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:16
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00362; B; B07; B07C; B07C1/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00467; G07B17/00661; G07B17/00193; G07B2017/00258; G07B17/00314; G07B2017/00338; G07B2017/0037; G07B2017/00475; G07B2017/00491; G07B2017/005; G07B2017/00669; G07B2017/00677; G07B2017/00685; G07B2017/00701
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A movable imprinting deck mechanism for use in a postage meter system, wherein mail of different thicknesses will obtain a uniform printing impression from a postage meter imprinting device disposed thereon, said imprinting deck mechanism comprising: first and second deck members having substantially flat adjacent mail engaging surfaces, said deck members receiving mail of different thicknesses between said adjacent surfaces, said second deck member translating from said first deck member in response to receipt of said mail; a base; and linkage means interdisposed between said second deck member and said base and comprising a pair of pivotable links which are pivotable about their midportions relative to said base, one end of each link being movably secured at opposite ends of said second deck member, said links having a gear face at the other end thereof, the gear faces of the links being intermeshing, so as one link pivots, the other link is caused to pivot by the same amount, whereby as one end of said second deck member is caused to separate from said first deck member, the other end of said second deck member will separate the same amount from said first deck member, thereby resulting in a uniform separation of saiad deck members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A movable imprinting deck mechanism for use in a postage meter system, wherein mail of different thicknesses will obtain a uniform printing impression from a postage meter imprinting device disposed thereon, said imprinting deck mechanism comprising: first and second deck members having substantially flat adjacent mail engaging surfaces, said deck members receiving mail of different thicknesses between said adjacent surfaces, said second deck member translating from said first deck member in response to receipt of said mail; a base; and linkage means interdisposed between said second deck member and said base and comprising a pair of pivotable links which are pivotable about their midportions relative to said base, one end of each link being movably secured at opposite ends of said second deck member, said links having a gear face at the other end thereof, the gear faces of the links being intermeshing, so as one link pivots, the other link is caused to pivot by the same amount, whereby as one end of said second deck member is caused to separate from said first deck member, the other end of said second deck member will separate the same amount from said first deck member, thereby resulting in a uniform separation of saiad deck members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The movable imprinting deck mechanism of claim 1, wherein said linkage means comprises biasing means for urging said second deck member towards said first deck member after mail leaves the deck members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The movable imprinting deck mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second deck member supports an impression roller disposed opposite to an imprinting roller carried by said postage meter imprinting device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The movable imprinting deck mechanism of claim 3, wherein said impression roller is movably supported by said second deck member and biased into contact with said imprinting roller, to provide sufficient contact pressure between the imprinting and impression rollers to cause a quality postage imprint to be formed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The movable imprinting deck mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second deck member has a feeder lip disposed at one end thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The movable imprinting deck mechanism of claim 1, wherein said first deck member further comprises means to feed pieces of mail across the second deck member surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The movable imprinting deck mechanism of claim 6, wherein said mail feed means comprises a continuous friction belt, and means to drive said belt past said second deck member surface, pieces of mail being engaged and transported across said second deck member surface by means of said friction belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The movable imprinting deck mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first and second deck member surfaces are parallel to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The movable imprinting deck of claim 1, wherein said first and second deck member surfaces are oriented vertically so as to receive and engage mail traveling in an edgewise manner.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |